Reference intervals for haematological parameters in the Lusitano horse breed.

The research article focuses on determining reference intervals for various blood parameters in the Lusitano horse breed, derived from blood samples of 100 healthy adult horses. The study identified significant differences in certain parameters across different age groups, highlighting that the generated reference intervals can provide critical data for clinical assessments of this particular horse breed.

Objective and Research Methodology

• The researchers aimed to establish reference intervals for haematological parameters in Lusitano horses, a breed that hails from Portugal and is enjoying increasing global popularity.
• The team studied blood samples from 100 healthy adult horses – 13 females and 87 males, aged from 3 to 25 years – using the haematological cell counter, LaserCyte, by IDEXX.
• The calculation of reference intervals was done by referring to the ASVCP (American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology) guidelines, with the help of the Reference Value Advisor software.

Key Findings

• The research established reference intervals for a slew of blood parameters, including red and white blood cells, haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, platelets, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, and plateletcrit.
• Eighteen out of the 22 analyzed blood parameters recorded established LaserCyte equine reference intervals that are applicable to the Lusitano horse breed.
• Mean values of MCV, RDW, neutrophils, and lymphocytes showed substantial statistical differences across various age brackets: young (3-6 years old), middle-age (7-14 years old) and old (>15 years old). Also, significant statistical differences were found in the MCH values among the three age groups.

Research Implications and Applications

• The findings of this study are important for veterinary science and practicing clinicians as it allows a deep understanding of the haematological characteristics of the Lusitano horse breed.
• The established haematological reference intervals can assist in interpreting clinical data related to this horse breed. It provides critical information to make informed diagnoses and prepare treatment plans, allowing better healthcare provision for Lusitano horses.
• The differences observed across the different age groups can help to understand the breed’s haematological changes due to aging, offering insights into age-related health issues or conditions.