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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Essential and risk elements in horses affect haematology, se...
Scientific reports2025; 15(1); 3489; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-87908-6

Essential and risk elements in horses affect haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative status parameters.

Abstract: The abundance of chemical elements in the blood of horses can indicate the physiological balance, health of animal as well as can be taken as an indicator of environmental pollution. The aim of this work was to analyse haematological, biochemical parameters, TOS, FRAP, SOD, Gpx, TAS and their correlations with concentrations of essential and risk elements in blood of horses stabled in two different locations: The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky (n = 11; 11 stallions, consisting of the breeds 6 Lipizzan, 3 Slovak warmblood, 2 Holsteiner) and Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA in Nitra (n = 10; 4 stallions, 5 geldings, 1 mare, 4 stallions, 5 geldings and 1 mare, consisting of the breeds 3 Slovak warmblood, 4 Czech warmblood, 3 Holsteiner). Blood samples were obtained from horses (n = 21) from two localities in the Slovak Republic during May. The haematological profiles of horses from both locations were within reference values. The values of biochemical parameters of horse samples that underwent analysis showed only minor deviations from the referential values reported by several authors. Fe was the most accumulated elements (383.95 mg/L and 403.61 mg/L, respectively). Finally, this investigation based on correlation analyses identified essential and risk elements in horse blood serum and significant negative correlation between Cd and GRA, HGB and HCT was observed in The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky and a positive correlation was recorded between Zn and total proteins in the Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA Nitra. The obtained data could be used as a control indicator to identify risk hazards related to the heavy metals in relation to the health of animals.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-28 PubMed ID: 39875518PubMed Central: PMC11775093DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87908-6Google 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 examined how certain chemical elements in horse blood can impact their physiological health and act as an indicator of environmental pollution. The research conducted on horses from two different stables, found potential correlations between these chemical levels and various haematological and biochemistry profiles.

Study Background and Objective

  • The study’s objective was to analyze elements in horse blood, along with hematological and biochemical parameters, to decode any potential correlations. This data is valuable as these chemical elements can act as indicators of a horse’s health, as well as the state of the surrounding environment.

Research Methodology

  • The research was done on 21 horses currently residing at two separate locations: The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky and the Experimental Centre at Institute of Animal Husbandry, SUA in Nitra.
  • In the study, blood samples were collected in May from various horse breeds from both locations at two stables in the Slovak Republic.
  • Haematological profiles (the number and types of cells in the blood) of horses from both stables were analyzed and found to be within reference values. This means the profiles were within the normal range for healthy horses.

Findings

  • The study found that aside from minor deviations, biochemical parameters of the blood samples were still within the range reported by other authors.
  • Iron was found to be the most accumulated element in the blood, with concentrations of 383.95 mg/L and 403.61 mg/L respectively.
  • Significant correlations were observed in The National Stud Farm Topoľčianky and SUA Nitra horses. Specifically, there was a negative correlation between Cadmium (Cd) and Granulocytes (GRA), Hemoglobin (HGB) and Hematocrit (HCT), indicating that as Cd levels increased, the others decreased. A positive correlation was noted between Zinc (Zn) and total proteins, meaning that as Zn levels increased, so did protein levels.

Importance of the Study

  • The data compiled from this study can potentially be used to identify health hazards associated with high levels of heavy metals in the blood of animals.
  • Furthermore, it can inform decisions about the welfare of horses and set indicators for environmental pollution, particularly in areas surrounding stables.

Cite This Article

APA
Halo M, Kirchner R, Tirpák F, Slanina T, Tokárová K, Kováčik A, Miškeje M, Greń A, Formicki G, Halo M, Madeddu R, Massányi P. (2025). Essential and risk elements in horses affect haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative status parameters. Sci Rep, 15(1), 3489. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87908-6

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 3489
PII: 3489

Researcher Affiliations

Halo, Marko
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia. marko.halo1@uniag.sk.
Kirchner, Róbert
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Tirpák, Filip
  • Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, S108, 920E Campus Dr, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Slanina, Tomáš
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Tokárová, Katarína
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Kováčik, Anton
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Miškeje, Michal
  • AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Greń, Agnieszka
  • Institute of Biology, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorazych 2, 30-084, Kraków, Poland.
Formicki, Grzegorz
  • Institute of Biology, University of the National Education Commission, Podchorazych 2, 30-084, Kraków, Poland.
Halo, Marko
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.
Madeddu, Roberto
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences-Histology, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
Massányi, Peter
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76, Nitra, Slovakia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / blood
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Male
  • Female
  • Slovakia

Grant Funding

  • VEGA 1/0437/24 / Vedecku00e1 Grantovu00e1 Agentu00fara Mu0160VVau0160 SR a SAV
  • VEGA 1/0698/22 / Vedecku00e1 Grantovu00e1 Agentu00fara Mu0160VVau0160 SR a SAV
  • KEGA 035SPU-4/2023 / Kultu00farna a edukau010dnu00e1 grantovu00e1 agentu00fara Ministerstva u0161kolstva, vu00fdskumu, vu00fdvoja a mlu00e1deu017ee Slovenskej republiky
  • APVV-21-0168 / Agentu00fara na Podporu Vu00fdskumu a Vu00fdvoja

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Institutional review board statement: All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Every horse was bred and carefully handled in compliance with European Community guidelines m. 86/609/ EEC concerning the safety of animals used in experiments, following with the ethical guidelines of the Animal Protection Regulation of the Slovak Republic RD 377/12. Experimental protocol no. 178/2002 was approved by the committee at SUA in Nitra, Slovak Republic. ARRIVE statement: Animal care protocols were realized in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines.

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