Modifications of some acute phase proteins and the white blood cell count in thoroughbreds during training.

The research article investigates how training impacts the levels of certain acute phase proteins and the white blood cell count in thoroughbred horses.

Study Participants and Methodology

• The study was conducted on 17 thoroughbred horses. The selection criteria or specific characteristics of the horses are not given in the abstract.
• All horses partook in a consistent training schedule for 80 days where they trained six days a week, taking one day off for rest.
• Researchers collected blood samples from each horse through jugular venepuncture at 6:00 a.m. every 20th day for the full duration of the study.

Assessment and Analysis

• The blood samples were analyzed to measure the concentrations of two acute phase proteins: plasma fibrinogen and serum haptoglobin. Besides, the researchers also calculated the white blood cell (WBC) count.
• Statistically, the team employed a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, followed by the Bonferroni test. These techniques were used to identify any possible significant changes in the levels of the proteins and the WBC count after comparing the different blood samples taken over the study period.

Findings and Conclusion

• The results showed a significant increase in the concentration of plasma fibrinogen (p<0.01) and serum haptoglobin (p<0.0005) over the training period.
• However, the training did not have a noticeable influence on the WBC count, indicating that the immune response of the horses, as gauged through white blood cells, did not alter significantly as a result of the training.
• This finding suggests that training likely incites physiological changes in horses, leading to an increase in certain acute phase proteins. However, it doesn’t noticeably alter their immune response, as reflected by the WBC count.