Analysis of the season-dependent component in the evaluation of morphological and biochemical blood parameters in Shetland ponies of both sexes during exercise.
Abstract: Determination of morphological and biochemical blood indices facilitates assessment of the health and welfare of horses, their nutrient demand, the effects of training already undertaken, and the horses' suitability for exercise. Identification of the season-dependent components and the effects of sex and exercise on changes in frequently referenced haematological and biochemical parameters was the main goal of the current study. Unassigned: The blood morphology of 21 healthy adult Shetland ponies (11 mares and 10 stallions) aged 6.5 ± 1.4 years from the central Pomeranian region in Poland was analysed. Blood samples were taken once per season for one year. Unassigned: No statistically significant season-dependent differences were found in the blood morphology parameters in either mares or stallions before or after exercise. Beta-coefficient results revealed the strength and type of the relationship of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and granulocyte count (GRA) with the season, of red blood cell count (RBC), haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean platelet volume with the sex, and of RDW, white blood cell count, GRA and RBC with the exercise factor. Biomarkers demonstrating the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic levels of energy metabolism in the blood did not show any sex dependency in regression analysis. Unassigned: The sex-independence of energy metabolism biomarkers may indicate the universality of these parameters. Both seasonality itself and its combination with the exercise factor took part in the formation of effective adaptive reactions for maintenance of morphological blood indices in the ponies during exercise.
© 2024 Halina Tkaczenko et al., published by Sciendo.
Publication Date: 2024-03-23 PubMed ID: 38525221PubMed Central: PMC10960263DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0017Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 research aimed to understand the seasonal variations and the impact of sex and exercise on common blood parameters in Shetland ponies. Results indicate that neither the seasons nor the pony’s sex significantly influenced these blood characteristics. However, the exercise factor did show its effect on certain hematological parameters.
About the study
In this research, the blood morphologies of 21 healthy adult Shetland ponies, composed of 11 mares and 10 stallions, aged around 6.5 years, were analyzed. The data was collected once per season over the period of a year. The particular focus was on understanding the effects of the seasons, sex, and exercise on commonly referenced hematological and biochemical parameters in these ponies.
Findings
- No significant seasonal fluctuations were found in the blood parameters of either the mares or the stallions before or after exercise. Thus, seasonality does not seem to impact the morphological blood indices in these ponies.
- Certain blood parameters did show a relationship with the factors of the season, sex, and exercise, as depicted by the Beta coefficient. These include the red blood cell distribution width and granulocyte count (related to season), red blood cell count, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean platelet volume (related to sex), and red blood cell distribution width, white blood cell count, granulocyte count, and red blood cell count (related to exercise).
Implication of the findings
- The researchers suggest that the lack of sex dependency in the biomarkers linked to aerobic and anaerobic levels of energy metabolism might hint at these parameters being universal.
- Despite the seasons not directly influencing the blood parameters, both seasonality and its interaction with the exercise factor seem to play a role in forming effective adaptive reactions. These adaptations help in maintaining the morphological blood parameters in these ponies during exercise.
These findings add to the understanding of the factors influencing the blood parameters in sport horses, which could support improved health and welfare assessments, as well as nutrition and training planning for these animals.
Cite This Article
APA
(2024).
Analysis of the season-dependent component in the evaluation of morphological and biochemical blood parameters in Shetland ponies of both sexes during exercise.
J Vet Res, 68(1), 155-166.
https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2024-0017 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.
References
This article includes 37 references
- Andriichuk A, Tkachenko H, Kurhaluk N. Gender Differences of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Erythrocyte Damage in Well-Trained Horses During Exercise. J Equine Vet Sci 2014;34:978.
- Balogh N, Gaál T, Ribiczeyné PS, Petri A. Biochemical and antioxidant changes in plasma and erythrocytes of pentathlon horses before and after exercise. Vet Clin Pathol 2001;30:214.
- Choińska AM, Bajer W, Żurek A, Gieysztor E. The Effect of Contact with a Horse During a Three-day Hippotherapy Session on Physiotherapy Students’ Emotions. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2022;15:1385.
- Cywinska A, Szarska E, Degorski A, Guzera M, Gorecka R, Strzelec K, Kowalik S, Schollenberger A, Winnicka A. Blood phagocyte activity after race training sessions in Thoroughbred and Arabian horses. Res Vet Sci 2013;95:459.
- da Conceiçâo FF, de Mattos BHV, Sa PA, Marçola TG, da Silva GA, Teixeira HCA, Campebell RC. Hematological and biochemical values in Breton breed horses in Brasi’lia-DF. Braz J Vet Med 2022;44:e001122.
- de Moffarts B, Kirschvink N, Art T, Pincemail J, Lekeux P. Effect of oral antioxidant supplementation on blood antioxidant status in trained thoroughbred horses. Vet J 2005;169:65.
- Fazio F, Assenza A, Tosto F, Casella S, Piccione G, Caola G. Training and haematochemical profile in Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds: A longitudinal study. Livest Sci 2011;141:221.
- Fitzgerald BP, McManus CJ. Photoperiodic versus metabolic signals as determinants of seasonal anestrus in the mare. Biol Reprod 2000;63:335.
- Giannetto C, Carcangiu V, Luridiana S, Parmeggiani A, Piccione G. Twenty-four-hour rhythm patterns of plasma melatonin in short-day and long-day breeders maintained under natural environmental conditions. Chronobiol Int 2020;37:974.
- Giannetto C, Fazio F, Alberghina D, Giudice E, Piccione G. Clock Genes Expression in Peripheral Leukocytes and Plasma Melatonin Daily Rhythm in Horses. J Equine Vet Sci 2020;84:102856.
- Gromadzka-Ostrowska J, Zalewska B, Jakubów K, Gozlinski H. Three-year study on trace mineral concentration in the blood plasma of Shetland pony mares. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol 1985;82:651.
- Herasimov I, Plaksina O. Неферментативне визначелактату та пірувату в одній пробі крові (Non-enzymatic determination of lactate and pyruvate concentrations in a single blood sample - in Ukrainian). Laboratorna Diagnostyka 2000;2:46.
- Herteman N, Grimes C, Lavoie JP. Retrospective investigation of automated hematology analyzer-determined indicators of neutrophil activation in blood samples from horses with asthma. Am J Vet Res 2021;82:737.
- Hinchcliff KW, Geor RJ. The horse as an athlete: a physiological overview. 2008;pp. 2–11.
- Kurhaluk N, Lukash O, Tkachenko H. Photoperiod-dependent changes in oxidative stress markers in the blood of Shetland pony mares and stallions involved in recreational horseback riding. Chronobiol Int 2022;39:1419.
- Lincoln GA, Hazlerigg DG. Mammalian circannual pacemakers. Soc Reprod Fertil 2010;Suppl. 67:171.
- Massanyi M, Halo M Jr, Massanyi P, Mlynekova E, Gren A, Formicki G, Halo M. Changes in haematological and biochemical parameters in blood serum of horses during exposition to workload stress. Heliyon 2022;8:e12241.
- Memme JM, Erlich AT, Phukan G, Hood DA. Exercise and mitochondrial health. J Physiol 2021;599:803.
- Mukai K, Kitaoka Y, Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Takahashi K, Ohmura H. Moderate-intensity training in hypoxia improves exercise performance and glycolytic capacity of skeletal muscle in horses. Physiol Rep 2021;9:e15145.
- Nikolaidis MG, Jamurtas AZ. Blood as a reactive species generator and redox status regulator during exercise. Arch Biochem Biophys 2009;490:77.
- Philp AM, Saner NJ, Lazarou M, Ganley IG, Philp A. The influence of aerobic exercise on mitochondrial quality control in skeletal muscle. J Physiol 2021;599:3463.
- Piccione G, Bazzano M, Giannetto C, Marafioti S, Fazio F. Training-induced changes in clotting parameters of athletic horses. J Vet Sci 2014;15:45.
- Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Ukowski KZ, Piorkowska K, Bugno-Poniewierska M. Exercise-induced modification of the skeletal muscle transcriptome in Arabian horses. Physiol Genomics 2017;49:318.
- Rose RJ, Allen JR. Hematologic responses to exercise and training. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1985;1:461.
- Salazar-Ortiz J, Camous S, Briant C, Lardic L, Chesneau D, Guillaume D. Effects of nutritional cues on the duration of the winter anovulatory phase and on associated hormone levels in adult female Welsh pony horses (Equus caballus). Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2011;9:130.
- Satué K. Physiological Factors in the Interpretation of Equine Hematological Profile. 2012;pp. 573–596.
- Satué K, Gardón JC, Muňoz A. Influence of the month of the year in the hematological profile in Carthusian broodmares. Hematol Leuk 2013;1:6.
- Satué K, Gardón JC, Muňoz A. Season of the Year should be Considered in the Interpretation of Hematology in Carthusian Broodmares. J Hematol Res 2014;1:63.
- Satué K, Hernández Á, Lorente C, Fazio E, Medica P. Age- and Sex-Related Modifications of Hematology in Spanish Purebred Horse. J Equine Vet Sci 2020;93:103219.
- Scheibe KM, Berger A, Langbein J, Streich WJ, Eichhorn K. Comparative analysis of ultradian and circadian behavioural rhythms for diagnosis of biorhythmic state of animals. Biol Rhythm Res 1999;30:216.
- Soroko M, Śpitalniak-Bajerska K, Zaborski D, Poźniak B, Dudek K, Janczarek I. Exercise-induced changes in skin temperature and blood parameters in horses. Arch Anim Breed 2019;62:205.
- Stanisz A. Przystçpny kurs statystyki z zastosowaniem STATISTICA PL na przyktadach z medycyny. Tom 2. Modele liniowe i nieliniowe (An affordable statistics course using STATISTICA PL on examples from medicine. Volume 2. Liniear and non-linear models - in Polish). 2007.
- Stokol T. Hematology Red Flags: The Value of Blood Smear Examination in Horses. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2020;36:15.
- Waller AP, Lindinger MI. Nutritional aspects of post exercise skeletal muscle glycogen synthesis in horses: a comparative review. Equine Vet J 2010;42:274.
- Whiting TL, Salmon RH, Wruck GC. Chronically starved horses: predicting survival, economic, and ethical considerations. Can Vet J 2005;46:320.
- Wilk I, Wnuk-Pawlak E, Janczarek I, Kaczmarek B, Dybczyńska M, Przetacznik M. Distribution of Superficial Body Temperature in Horses Ridden by Two Riders with Varied Body Weights. Animals 2020;10:340.
- Witonsky S, Gogal RM Jr, Buechner-Maxwell V, Ahmed SA. Immunologic analysis of blood samples obtained from horses and stored for twenty-four hours. Am J Vet Res 2003;64:1003.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
