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Journal of equine science2017; 28(1); 27-30; doi: 10.1294/jes.28.27

Effects of dystocia on blood gas parameters, acid-base balance and serum lactate concentration in heavy draft newborn foals.

Abstract: Dystocia is often lethal for neonatal foals; however, its clinicopathological features remain largely unknown. We investigated the effect of dystocia on the foal blood profile. Venous blood samples were collected from 35 foals (5 Percheron and 30 crossbreds between Percheron, Belgian, and Breton heavy draft horses) at 0 hr, 1 hr, 12 hr and 1 day after birth. Dystocia was defined as prolonged labor >30 min with strong fetal traction with or without fetal displacement. The dystocia group (n=13) showed lower mean values for pH (P<0.01), bicarbonate (P<0.01), total carbon dioxide (P<0.05), and base excess (P<0.01) and higher mean values for anion gap (P<0.05) and lactate (P90 mmHg) were observed in three foals in the dystocia group but in none of the foals in the normal birth group immediately after birth. These results suggest that dystocia results in lactic acidosis and may be related to respiratory distress.
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Publication Date: 2017-03-28 PubMed ID: 28400704PubMed Central: PMC5383628DOI: 10.1294/jes.28.27Google 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 research investigates and presents findings that dystocia, prolonged and difficult labor, can cause changes in blood gas parameters, acid-base balance, and increase lactate concentration in newborn foals of heavy draft horses, potentially leading to respiratory distress and lactic acidosis.

Study Subjects and Methodology

  • The study consisted of analyzing the venous blood samples of 35 newborn foals of heavy draft horses, specifically 5 Percherons and 30 crossbreds between Percheron, Belgian, and Breton breeds.
  • Blood samples were collected at four different times: immediately after birth, 1 hour after birth, 12 hours after birth, and 1 day after birth.
  • The foals were divided into two groups: those which experienced dystocia during birth (13 foals) and those which had a normal birth (22 foals). Dystocia was defined as labors exceeding 30 minutes with strong fetal traction and possible fetal displacement.

Key Findings

  • The analysis showed that the foals that experienced dystocia had significantly altered blood gas parameters and acid-base balance, and higher lactate levels immediately after birth as compared to the foals from the normal birth group.
  • Specifically, the dystocia group showed lower pH, bicarbonate, total carbon dioxide and base excess values, and higher lactate levels and anion gaps.
  • Very high values of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) were observed in three foals from the dystocia group, but not in any of the foals from the normal birth group.

Interpretation and Conclusion

  • The change in blood parameters and the high lactate levels seen in the dystocic foals are indicative of lactic acidosis, a condition that occurs when lactate builds up in the bloodstream faster than it can be removed, usually due to strenuous exercise or medical conditions such as sepsis or liver failure.
  • The high pCO2 values in some foals is suggestive of respiratory distress, which could have been due to the challenging labor process.
  • In conclusion, the study suggests that dystocia causes significant physiological changes in newborn foals, particularly lactic acidosis and potential respiratory distress, highlighting the potential medical complications associated with prolonged and difficult labor in foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Kimura Y, Aoki T, Chiba A, Nambo Y. (2017). Effects of dystocia on blood gas parameters, acid-base balance and serum lactate concentration in heavy draft newborn foals. J Equine Sci, 28(1), 27-30. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.28.27

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 1
Pages: 27-30

Researcher Affiliations

Kimura, Yuki
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Aoki, Takahiro
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Chiba, Akiko
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Nambo, Yasuo
  • Department of Applied Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan; Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. 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
  2. Aoki T, Chiba A, Itoh M, Nambo Y, Yamagishi N, Shibano KI, Cheong SH. Colostral and foal serum immunoglobulin G levels and associations with perinatal abnormalities in heavy draft horses in Japan. J Equine Sci 2020 Jun;31(2):29-34.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.31.29pubmed: 32617073google scholar: lookup
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