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Open veterinary journal2023; 13(12); 1696-1707; doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.18

Hematological reference values of horses in Western Libya and their relationship to breed, age, and management.

Abstract: Hematological evaluation is an important step for health assessment in equine medicine. Besides biochemical tests, that evaluation could be pivotal for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. In Libya, the horse population has drastically increased in the last years, and hitherto, no report addressed the reference hematological values for the existing equine breeds. Unassigned: This study aimed to establish the reference for hematological indices of traditional equestrian and stud-farm equine breeds in Western Libya in regard to some variables such as individual characteristics, management system, and rearing purpose. Unassigned: Blood samples of 167 horses of Arabian, Thoroughbred, and local breeds were collected from an area covering a large part of Western Libya and complete blood counts of the samples were performed using a hematological auto-analyzer. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science software. Unassigned: Hematological reference indices were generated for the aforementioned equine breeds in Western Libya. The equine hematological profile was variable according to some individual and management factors. In addition, the significant effects of those factors were usually restricted to erythrocyte- and platelets (PLTs)-related indices. In terms of breed influence, Thoroughbreds had significantly lower erythrocyte counts of red blood cells (RBCs) compared to local horses ( = 0.04), and Arabian horses showed significantly higher PLT counts compared to Thoroughbreds and local horses; = 0.00 and = 0.03, respectively. Moreover, significantly lower values of hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), and PLT counts were noticed in young horses vis-à-vis significantly higher values of HCT, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width in females. In regard to exercise, racing horses varied significantly from nonracing horses in monocyte percentage ( = 0.04), RBC ( = 0.00), HGB ( = 0.00), HCT ( = 0.00), MCV ( = 0.00), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) ( = 0.00). Diet supplementation also influenced the equine erythrocyte-related indices, as horses offered supplemented diet had significantly higher RBC ( = 0.00), HGB ( = 0.00), HCT ( = 0.00), MCV ( = 0.00), and MCH ( = 0.00), comparing to those served nonsupplemented diet. Unassigned: This study provided the first reference values of the equine hematological profile in Western Libya. In addition, the age, breed, exercise, and diet supplementation had variable impacts on hematological equine indices.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-31 PubMed ID: 38292715PubMed Central: PMC10824076DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.18Google 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 aimed to establish blood test reference values for horses in Western Libya and examined how these values were influenced by factors like breed, age, and management practices such as diet and exercise, which in turn can have implications for equine health assessments.

Objective of the Study

  • The purpose of the study was to generate hematological reference values, key to equine health evaluations, for different horse breeds in Western Libya.
  • This research is particularly significant as the horse population in the region has grown substantially in recent years and no similar study has been carried out in the area.

Methodology

  • Blood samples were collected from 167 horses, including Arabian, Thoroughbred, and local breeds.
  • These samples were collected across a broad area of Western Libya and complete blood counts were performed on an automatic hematological analyzer.
  • The study utilized the Statistical Package for Social Science software for statistical analysis of the collected data.

Results and Interpretations

  • The study established hematological reference indices for these equine breeds in Western Libya and found these indices varied according to individual and management factors.
  • Most of the variation in these factors was limited to indices related to red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets.
  • The breed of the horse had a significant impact; Thoroughbreds were found to have significantly lower RBC counts compared to local horses, while Arabian horses had significantly higher platelet counts.
  • There were variations in the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, and platelet counts between young and older horses, with younger horses tending to have lower levels.
  • Exercise played a notable role as racing horses significantly differed in RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels from nonracing horses.
  • Diet supplementation also had a significant impact on the horses’ erythrocyte-related indices, with horses on supplemented diets showing significantly higher RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean cell volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels compared to horses on nonsupplemented diets.

Conclusion

  • This research offers the first reference values for equine hematological profiles in Western Libya.
  • The study found that breed, age, exercise, and diet supplementation variably impact these indices, indicating the complexity of factors affecting equine health.

Cite This Article

APA
Sawesi OK, Elbaz AK, Mahmoud AS, Duro EM, Alteab AA, Milad KK, Bennuor EM. (2023). Hematological reference values of horses in Western Libya and their relationship to breed, age, and management. Open Vet J, 13(12), 1696-1707. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.18

Publication

Open veterinary journal
ISSN: 2218-6050
NlmUniqueID: 101653182
Country: Libya
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 12
Pages: 1696-1707

Researcher Affiliations

Sawesi, Osama K
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Elbaz, Abdulkareem K
  • Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
  • Authors contributed equally to this work.
Mahmoud, Abdusalam S
  • Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
  • Authors contributed equally to this work.
Duro, Enass M
  • Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Alteab, Abdulnassar A
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Milad, Khaled K
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
  • Sebaq Veterinary Clinic, Tripoli, Libya.
Bennuor, Emad M
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.

MeSH Terms

  • Female
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Reference Values
  • Libya
  • Hematologic Tests / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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