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The Journal of veterinary medical science2002; 64(7); 607-610; doi: 10.1292/jvms.64.607

Concentrations of toxic metals and essential minerals in the mane hair of healthy racing horses and their relation to age.

Abstract: Concentrations of trace elements (As, Al, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Si, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni and Mn) in the mane hair obtained from 9 female and 15 male healthy racing Thoroughbred horses aged 2-5 years were analyzed by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method. No significant differences between the female and male horses were observed in the mean concentrations of those minerals. Significantly positive correlations with age were observed in Cd (r=0.546, p<0.01) and Mo (r=0.733, p<0.001). Significantly negative correlations with age were observed in Hg (r= -0.726, p<0.001), Mn (r= -0.450, p<0.05) and Fe (r=-0.642, p<0.01). This reference range of trace elements in the mane hair of racing horses should be used to assess disease and the nutritional status in equine practice.
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Publication Date: 2002-08-20 PubMed ID: 12185315DOI: 10.1292/jvms.64.607Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The presented research identifies and measures the concentrations of various chemical elements in the mane hair of healthy racing horses, and how these levels relate to the horses’ age.

Methodology and Sample

  • The research encompassed an in-depth analysis of the mane hair of 24 healthy Thoroughbred racing horses aged between 2 to 5 years, comprising of 9 female and 15 male horses.
  • The hair samples underwent testing utilizing inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), an analytical technique used for detecting metallic elements.
  • The elements tested included potential toxins such as arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg), as well as essential minerals, including selenium (Se), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and manganese (Mn).

Results

  • No significant differences emerged between the male and female horses regarding the mean concentrations of the analyzed minerals.
  • Cadmium (Cd) and molybdenum (Mo) levels in the mane hair showed positive correlations with age – increasing as the horses got older.
  • Conversely, mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) demonstrated negative correlations with age – their concentration in the mane hair decreased as the horses aged.

Implications

  • The research underlines the importance of the noted reference range of trace elements in the mane hair of racing horses.
  • These reference ranges can be employed to assess the disease and nutritional status of horses in equine veterinary practice.
  • Understanding the concentrational changes in toxic and essential elements in regard to age could be useful for early detection and prevention of health issues in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Asano R, Suzuki K, Otsuka T, Otsuka M, Sakurai H. (2002). Concentrations of toxic metals and essential minerals in the mane hair of healthy racing horses and their relation to age. J Vet Med Sci, 64(7), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.64.607

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 0916-7250
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 7
Pages: 607-610

Researcher Affiliations

Asano, Ryuji
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-8510, Japan.
Suzuki, Kazuyuki
    Otsuka, Tomonari
      Otsuka, Masao
        Sakurai, Hidetoshi

          MeSH Terms

          • Aging / physiology
          • Animals
          • Female
          • Gambling
          • Hair / chemistry
          • Health
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Metals, Heavy / analysis
          • Reference Values
          • Sensitivity and Specificity
          • Trace Elements / analysis

          Citations

          This article has been cited 9 times.
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