Leukocyte modifications during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals.
Abstract: During early post-partum period both neonatal foals and peripartum mares are most susceptible to diseases. The aim of this study was to establish physiologic modifications of leukogram during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals. To this end blood samples were collected from nine mares and nine foals (T0-T10), every three days from the 1st day until the 30th day after foaling. Samples were analysed for white blood cell (WBC) count and differential leucocyte counts. Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed, in postpartum mares WBC showed significant higher values at T0 (9.02±0.76) in respect to other time points, and at T2 (8.08±0.53) and T3 (7.92±0.59) compared to T1 (6.98±0.43), whereas in foals lower WBC values at T0 (6.11±0.49) compared to other experimental periods except T1 (6.90±0.94), and at T1 compared to T8 (7.95±0.61) and T10 (7.90±0.36) were observed. The differential leucocyte counts showed significant modifications in the percentage of neutrophils (π<0.001) and lymphocytes (p<0.001) both in postpartum mares and in foals during the experimental period. Furthermore ANOVA showed significant differences between postpartum mares and foals (P<0.01) in all studied parameters, and between postpartum mares and control mares in WBC and neutrophils values. The obtained results provide suitable information about the influence of foaling on leukogram of periparturient mares and reveal WBC dynamics in newborn foals during the first month post-partum.
Publication Date: 2015-12-01 PubMed ID: 26618596DOI: 10.1515/pjvs-2015-0080Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper studies how blood cell counts change in mare horses and their newborn foals during the first month after birth, a time when they’re most vulnerable to diseases. The study finds significant alterations in white blood cell count and type both in the mares after giving birth and in newborn foals during the first month of life.
Research Methodology
- The researchers collected blood samples from nine mares and their nine newborn foals. The sampling spanned for a month, with a sample taken every three days, starting from the first day until the 30th day after the foal’s birth.
- These blood samples were examined for their count of white blood cells (WBC), and make-up of different types of white blood cells, also known as the differential leucocyte count.
- The data obtained were statistically analyzed using a two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA), a test that helps to identify if there are any significant differences between groups or conditions.
Results and Findings
- Analysis showed that in mares after giving birth, the WBC count was significantly higher at the time of birth (T0) compared to all later times. It was also observed to be higher at T2 (two days after birth) and T3 (three days after birth) than at T1 (one day after birth).
- In contrast, in the foals, the WBC count was observed to be lower at the time of birth than in other periods, except at T1. Additionally, the WBC count was lower at T1 than at T8 (eight days after birth) and T10 (ten days after birth).
- There were significant changes noted in the percentage of specific types of white blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, in both mares after giving birth and in foals.
- According to the statistical analysis of the ANOVA test, there were differences between the blood cell counts in mares post-partum and the foals, as well as differences between postpartum mares and control mares.
Conclusion
- The results obtained from this research provide informative insights into how birthing impacts the number and type of white blood cells in mares and newborn foals during the most crucial stage after birth.
Cite This Article
APA
Piccione G, Rizzo M, Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Di Pietro S, Bazzano M, Quartuccio M.
(2015).
Leukocyte modifications during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals.
Pol J Vet Sci, 18(3), 621-625.
https://doi.org/10.1515/pjvs-2015-0080 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Leukocytes / classification
- Leukocytes / physiology
- Male
- Parturition / physiology
- Time Factors
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