Immunophysiological responses of horses to a 12-hour rest during 24 hours of road transport.
Abstract: Thirty-eight mature horses were assigned to one of two equal groups to evaluate two treatments consisting of either 24 hours of continuous road transport (24T) or two 12-hour periods of transport separated by off-loading, resting and feeding the horses for 12 hours (12/12T). A subset of six horses from each group served as controls for the other group. The horses were loaded into a commercial straight-deck trailer and travelled loose in one of two standard-sized compartments. After the journeys the horses were put back into their paddocks for a 24-hour recovery period. Venous blood samples were collected before loading, after unloading and after the 24-hour recovery period. Transport significantly increased the horses' cortisol concentrations, neutrophil counts and neutrophil:lymphocyte (nl) ratios, and decreased the numbers of all the lymphocyte subpopulation cell types. Collectively, no significant differences were observed between the two treatments in the horses' cortisol concentrations, total leucocyte counts, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, nl ratios, and the cd8a+ and cd21+ lymphocyte subpopulations, but there were differences in the numbers of cd3+, cd4+, and cd8b+ subpopulations. The inclusion of a 12-hour rest-stop interrupted the transport-related decline in the lymphocyte subpopulations and allowed them to recover towards their resting levels.
Publication Date: 2008-05-16 PubMed ID: 18480019DOI: 10.1136/vr.162.19.609Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article studies the stress responses of horses during a 24 hour road transport journey, one group with a 12 hour rest and the other group without. The study found that the inclusion of a 12-hour rest-stop during the journey disrupted the transport-related decline in the health markers of the horses, allowing them to recover better.
Objectives of the Study
- The primary objective of this study was to assess the physiological stress responses of horses subjected to a 24-hour road transport journey under two different conditions.
- The two conditions were 24 continuous hours of travel (24T) and travel split into two 12-hour segments with a 12-hour rest in between (12/12T).
Methodology
- Thirty-eight mature horses were divided into two groups, corresponding to the two transport conditions.
- A portion of each group served as controls – that is, to offer a baseline comparison for the others.
- The horses traveled in a commercial straight-deck trailer and were left free within one of two standard-sized compartments.
- After the journeys, the horses were kept in their paddocks for a 24-hour recovery period.
- Venous blood samples were collected from the horses before loading, after unloading, and after the recovery period to measure the physiological markers of stress.
Results
- Transport was generally stressful for the horses, as indicated by increased cortisol levels, neutrophil counts, and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratios. Additionally, the total number of lymphocytes decreased, indicating suppressed immune responses.
- The overall response to the stress of transport was not significantly different between the two groups, apart from in a few specific types of lymphocytes: cd3+, cd4+, and cd8b+.
- Notably, the horses in the 12/12T group showed less decline in lymphocyte subpopulations, suggesting that the rest-stop allowed them to recover better as compared to the continuous travel group.
Implications
- This study indicates that including regular rest stops in long transportation journeys can help mitigate the negative physiological changes in horses caused by stress.
- The findings might have implications for transportation regulations for livestock, to ensure animal wellbeing on prolonged journeys.
Cite This Article
APA
Stull CL, Morrow J, Aldridge BA, Stott JL, McGlone JJ.
(2008).
Immunophysiological responses of horses to a 12-hour rest during 24 hours of road transport.
Vet Rec, 162(19), 609-614.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.162.19.609 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Feeding Behavior / physiology
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / immunology
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Leukocyte Count / veterinary
- Leukocytes / cytology
- Leukocytes / immunology
- Male
- Rest / physiology
- Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
- Time Factors
- Transportation / methods
- Travel
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Perricone V, Sandrini S, Irshad N, Comi M, Lecchi C, Savoini G, Agazzi A. The Role of Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Supporting Gut Health in Horses: An Updated Review on Its Effects on Digestibility and Intestinal and Fecal Microbiota. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 9;12(24).
- Ojima Y, Torii S, Maeda Y, Matsuura A. Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 20;12(19).
- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Earley B, Edwards S, Faucitano L, Marti S, Miranda de La Lama GC, Costa LN, Thomsen PT, Ashe S, Mur L, Van der Stede Y, Herskin M. Welfare of equidae during transport. EFSA J 2022 Sep;20(9):e07444.
- Ohmura H, Hiraga A. Effect of restraint inside the transport vehicle on heart rate and heart rate variability in Thoroughbred horses. J Equine Sci 2022 Apr;33(1):13-17.
- Miller AB, Harris PA, Barker VD, Adams AA. Short-term transport stress and supplementation alter immune function in aged horses. PLoS One 2021;16(8):e0254139.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Behaviour during transportation predicts stress response and lower airway contamination in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194272.
- Connysson M, Muhonen S, Jansson A. Road transport and diet affect metabolic response to exercise in horses. J Anim Sci 2017 Nov;95(11):4869-4879.
- Padalino B, Hall E, Raidal S, Celi P, Knight P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Health Problems and Risk Factors Associated with Long Haul Transport of Horses in Australia. Animals (Basel) 2015 Dec 10;5(4):1296-310.
- Raidal SL, Freccero F, Carstens A, Weaver S, Padalino B. Road transportation is associated with decreased intestinal motility in horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1647236.
- Arrigo F, Aragona F, Faggio C, Giudice E, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Rizzo M, Arfuso F. Monitoring the physiological inflammatory alertness in horse after road transport. Vet Res Commun 2024 Oct;48(5):3331-3338.
- Massányi M, Halo M, Mlyneková E, Kováčiková E, Tokárová K, Greń A, Massányi P, Halo M. The effect of training load stress on salivary cortisol concentrations, health parameters and hematological parameters in horses. Heliyon 2023 Aug;9(8):e19037.
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