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Theriogenology2012; 78(6); 1182-1189; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.02.032

Amniotic fluid and blood lactate concentrations in mares and foals in the early postpartum period.

Abstract: Amniotic fluid (AF) lactate concentration and time-dependent changes in blood lactate concentration in mares after parturition have never been evaluated. In this study, the venous blood lactate concentration of mares and foals during the first 72 h of the postpartum period was assessed, and the concentration of lactate in the AF collected during delivery and the utility of its measurement for evaluating the foal's health were investigated. This prospective observational study was carried out on mares attended at delivery. They were divided into mares delivering healthy (Group 1) and sick (Group 2) foals. The following samples were collected: AF and umbilical blood at delivery, mare's and foal's jugular blood every 12 hours from parturition until 72 h postpartum (T0-T72). Sixty-two mares were enrolled in Group 1 and 19 in Group 2. In Group 2, the survival rate was 68.4%. The median blood lactate of the foals at T0 was 3.60 mmol/L in Group 1 and 5.05 mmol/L in Group 2. The monitoring of the blood lactate concentration showed a significant time-dependent decrease from T24 in the foals (P < 0.01) and from T12 in the mares (P < 0.01). Lactate concentration over time was significantly different between healthy and sick foals (P < 0.01) but not between mares with normal and dystocic delivery (P = 0.08). A significant difference (P = 0.04) was detected as regards AF lactate concentration between Group 1 (median 14.99 mmol/L) and Group 2 (median 12.61 mmol/L). For the first time, AF lactate concentration was evaluated during parturition, and significantly higher levels were found in mares delivering healthy foals. This was an unexpected and very interesting result which warrants further investigation involving a larger number of mares. Additional studies are needed before either mare's blood or AF lactate concentration can be used in a clinical setting.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2012-08-13 PubMed ID: 22898010DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.02.032Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study examines lactate concentrations in mare and foal blood, as well as amniotic fluid, during the first 72 hours after birth, finding that levels were significantly different in healthy and sick foals, and seemed to be unexpectedly higher in mares that gave birth to healthy foals.

Study Overview and Methodology

  • The research was a prospective observational study focussing on mares during delivery. It aimed to assess venous blood lactate concentration in mares and foals during the first 72 hours after birth, and investigate the concentration of lactate in the amniotic fluid (AF) collected during delivery.
  • The study divided the mares into two groups – those that delivered healthy foals (Group 1) and those that gave birth to sick foals (Group 2). They collected AF and umbilical blood at delivery, as well as the mare’s and the foal’s jugular blood every 12 hours from birth until 72 hours after.
  • In total, 62 mares were placed in Group 1 and 19 in Group 2. In Group 2, the survival rate of the foals was 68.4%.

Key Findings

  • Monitoring blood lactate concentration showed a significant time-dependent decrease in foals from 24 hours after birth, and from 12 hours post-partum in mares.
  • The median blood lactate in foals at birth was 3.60 mmol/L for Group 1 and 5.05 mmol/L for Group 2, indicating a significant difference between healthy and sick foals. However, there was no significant difference in lactate concentration over time between mares that had a normal delivery and those that experienced birth complications.
  • There was a notable difference in the lactate concentration in the AF between Group 1 (median 14.99 mmol/L) and Group 2 (median 12.61 mmol/L), suggesting that higher levels of AF lactate were associated with the delivery of healthy foals. This was a unique and fascinating finding which was not initially expected.

Conclusions and Future Work

  • This study provides valuable information relating to lactate concentrations in mares and foals post-partum and offers a new perspective on the potential significance of AF lactate concentration.
  • The unexpected findings regarding higher AF lactate levels in mares delivering healthy foals warrant further investigation
  • The researchers recommend further studies be conducted before using mare’s blood or AF lactate concentration in a clinical setting.

Cite This Article

APA
Pirrone A, Mariella J, Gentilini F, Castagnetti C. (2012). Amniotic fluid and blood lactate concentrations in mares and foals in the early postpartum period. Theriogenology, 78(6), 1182-1189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.02.032

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 1879-3231
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 78
Issue: 6
Pages: 1182-1189

Researcher Affiliations

Pirrone, A
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. alessandro.pirrone2@unibo.it
Mariella, J
    Gentilini, F
      Castagnetti, C

        MeSH Terms

        • Amniotic Fluid / chemistry
        • Animals
        • Animals, Newborn / blood
        • Dystocia / blood
        • Dystocia / metabolism
        • Dystocia / veterinary
        • Female
        • Fetal Blood / chemistry
        • Horse Diseases / blood
        • Horse Diseases / metabolism
        • Horses / blood
        • Horses / metabolism
        • Lactic Acid / analysis
        • Lactic Acid / blood
        • Postpartum Period / blood
        • Pregnancy

        Citations

        This article has been cited 10 times.
        1. Ellero N, Lanci A, Baldassarro VA, Alastra G, Mariella J, Cescatti M, Castagnetti C, Giardino L. Study on NGF and VEGF during the Equine Perinatal Period-Part 2: Foals Affected by Neonatal Encephalopathy. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 26;9(9).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci9090459pubmed: 36136675google scholar: lookup
        2. Ellero N, Lanci A, Baldassarro VA, Alastra G, Mariella J, Cescatti M, Giardino L, Castagnetti C. Study on NGF and VEGF during the Equine Perinatal Period-Part 1: Healthy Foals Born from Normal Pregnancy and Parturition. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 23;9(9).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci9090451pubmed: 36136667google scholar: lookup
        3. Lanci A, Perina F, Donadoni A, Castagnetti C, Mariella J. Dystocia in the Standardbred Mare: A Retrospective Study from 2004 to 2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;12(12).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12121486pubmed: 35739823google scholar: lookup
        4. Sgorbini M, Bonelli F, Percacini G, Pasquini A, Rota A. Maternal and Neonatal Evaluation of Derived Reactive Oxygen Metabolites and Biological Antioxidant Potential in Donkey Mares and Foals. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 3;11(10).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11102885pubmed: 34679906google scholar: lookup
        5. Ider M, Naseri A, Ok M, Uney K, Erturk A, Durgut MK, Parlak TM, Ismailoglu N, Kapar MM. Biomarkers in premature calves with and without respiratory distress syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2524-2533.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.16217pubmed: 34227155google scholar: lookup
        6. Chen D, Liu X, Li J. Lactate levels and clearance rate in neonates undergoing mechanical ventilation in Tibet. J Int Med Res 2020 Oct;48(10):300060520962388.
          doi: 10.1177/0300060520962388pubmed: 33032480google scholar: lookup
        7. Dunkel B, Knowles EJ, Chang YM, Menzies-Gow NJ. Correlation between l-lactate and glucose concentrations and body condition score in healthy horses and ponies. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2267-2271.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.15587pubmed: 31390098google scholar: lookup
        8. Kimura Y, Aoki T, Chiba A, Nambo Y. Effects of dystocia on blood gas parameters, acid-base balance and serum lactate concentration in heavy draft newborn foals. J Equine Sci 2017;28(1):27-30.
          doi: 10.1294/jes.28.27pubmed: 28400704google scholar: lookup
        9. Wilkins PA, Sheahan BJ, Vander Werf KA, Castagnetti C, Hardy J, Schoster A, Boston RC. Preliminary investigation of the area under the L-lactate concentration-time curve (LACArea) in critically ill equine neonates. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Mar-Apr;29(2):659-62.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.12559pubmed: 25818220google scholar: lookup
        10. Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE. An Overview of Donkey Neonatology. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 6;15(13).
          doi: 10.3390/ani15131986pubmed: 40646885google scholar: lookup
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