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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Inflammatory-like status and acute stress response in horses...
Scientific reports2023; 13(1); 9858; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37069-1

Inflammatory-like status and acute stress response in horses after road transport.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the change of white blood cell count, serum concentration of cortisol, C-reactive protein, albumin and globulin fractions in horse after road transport, and to assess the linkage among hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and inflammatory reaction. From 10 horses blood samples were collected at rest, before road transport (218 km) (BT); after unloaded (AT), 30 and 60 min after unloaded (AT30 and AT60) in order to assess white blood cell count (WBC), serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), total proteins, albumin, α1-, α-2, β1-, β2- and γ-globulins. WBC, cortisol, CRP, α1-, α-2 and β2-globulins values increased after road transport than rest condition (p < 0.001). Albumin and A/G ratio showed lower values after road transport than rest (p < 0.001). Pearson's test showed a negative correlation between cortisol and the values of WBC, CRP, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2- globulins, and a positive correlation between WBC and serum concentration of CRP, α1- and α2-, β1-, β2-globulins at AT and AT30. The results showed that road transport evokes an inflammatory like-status in horses. Moreover, the activation of HPA and the onset of acute phase reaction in response to road transport seem to be interconnected with effects on horse's immune status.
© 2023. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2023-06-17 PubMed ID: 37330619PubMed Central: PMC10276830DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37069-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research paper is about a study on how road transport impacts the physiological response in horses, influencing their stress levels and activating an inflammatory-like response linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Objective of the Study

  • The study provides information on the changes in the white blood cell count, serum concentration of different hormones, and proteins in horses, triggered by road transport.
  • It aims to evaluate the effects of stress and inflammation on the horse’s body, linking it to the horse’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Methodology

  • The study involved ten horses, from which blood samples were collected under different conditions: at rest, before transport, after unloading, and 30 & 60 minutes post unloading.
  • The samples were tested to assess white blood cell count (WBC), serum cortisol, C-reactive protein (CRP), total proteins, albumin, and various types of globulins. These variables are indicators of stress and inflammation.

Findings

  • WBC, cortisol, CRP, and some globulins displayed an increase following road transport when compared to the rest condition.
  • Conversely, Albumin and A/G ratio depicted lower values after transport, indicating a physiological response to the stress of transport.
  • Pearson’s test pointed out a negative correlation between cortisol and WBC, CRP, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2- globulins, suggesting these markers increase as cortisol level decreases.
  • A positive correlation was identified between WBC and serum concentration of CRP, α1- and α2-, β1-, β2-globulins at AT and AT30.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that road transport induces an “inflammatory-like” status in horses and this could be attributed to the activation of the HPA axis and associated acute phase reaction.
  • Such a reaction seems to be interconnected with the changes in the horse’s immune status due to stress caused by road transport.

Cite This Article

APA
(2023). Inflammatory-like status and acute stress response in horses after road transport. Sci Rep, 13(1), 9858. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37069-1

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 9858
PII: 9858

Researcher Affiliations

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Hydrocortisone
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Globulins
  • Albumins

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

References

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