Hematuria and pigmenturia of horses.

The research article examines the causes and effects of hematuria and pigmenturia in horses.

Overview of Hematuria and Pigmenturia

• The article primarily discusses two urine conditions in horses—hematuria and pigmenturia. Hematuria refers to the presence of blood in a horse’s urine, while pigmenturia is characterized by discoloration of urine due to the presence of pigments not typically seen in normal equine urine.
• The study also points out that equine urine is typically straw colored, and any deviations from this color can be attributed to various factors. One of such factors is the contamination of the urine with red blood cells, which leads to hematuria.

Causes of Hematuria and Pigmenturia

• The research identifies several factors that can cause discolored urine in horses. One prominent cause mentioned is the introduction of red blood cells into the urine stream, which would result in the urine taking on a reddish color—a condition referred to as hematuria.
• The second cause is a high concentration of hemoglobin in the urine, which can also alter its color. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
• Myoglobin, another type of protein found in muscle cells, can also discolour urine when found in high quantities. It’s responsible for giving muscle tissue its dark color and is known to be released during muscle injury.
• The presence of certain oxidizing agents naturally found in the horse’s urine is yet another factor that can lead to discolored urine, as these oxidizing agents can react with urine constituents, altering their color.
• Finally, certain plant-derived pigments, if ingested by the horse, can be excreted via urine, thereby causing its colour to change. These pigments might be contained in the horse’s feed or in the water it drinks.