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Frontiers in veterinary science2020; 7; 602984; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.602984

Reference Ranges for Hematological and Biochemical Profile of Martina Franca Donkeys.

Abstract: The Martina Franca donkey (MFd) is one of the largest Italian donkey breeds, considered as endangered breed. To support the conservation strategies, knowledge about the physiologic hematological parameters of MFds is needed. The aims of the study were to determine reference value for hematological and major serum parameters in a population of healthy MFds and to estimate the influence of age on these parameters. Eighty-one clinically healthy MFds (17 males and 64 females) in different ages were enrolled: group A (foals, n° 16, animals < 1 year old) group B (young animals, n° 36, from 1 to 3 years old), and group C (adult animals, n° 29, over 3 years old). Red blood cell count (RBC); hematocrit value (HCT); hemoglobin concentration (HGB); mean corpuscular volume (MCV); mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH); hemoglobin concentration distribution width (HDW); RBC distribution width (RDW); total white blood cell (WBC); WBC differential count for neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils, and platelets (PLT); mean platelet volume (MPV); platelet volume distribution width; and plateletcrit (PCT) were analyzed. The biochemistry panel included aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total serum protein (TP), albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TGL), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA), glucose (GLU), Ca, phosphorus, Na, Cl, K, and Mg. The effect of age on hematological parameters was investigated using one-way ANOVA test. Age of donkeys does not influence total WBC, HGB, HCT, platelet count and MPV, and PCT ( > 0.05). Some leukocyte populations such as eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils showed age-linked variations ( < 0.05). RBC count, RDW, and HDW decrease with age whereas MCV and MCH increase. Na, K, Cl, Ca, phosphorus, ALP, GGT, CREA, GLUC, and CHOL decrease with age ( < 0.05), while AST and TP showed an increase with aging ( < 0.05). ALB reaches the lowest values in young donkeys and returns to values of foals in older animals ( < 0.05). Finally, a difference among groups for BUN and TGL was not found ( < 0.05). The results suggest how even for the MFd breed, age is a variable that affects different hematological and biochemical parameters. Compared to other donkey and horses, the MFd breed showed some differences that clinicians involved during conservation strategies need to be consider.
Copyright © 2020 Trimboli, De Amicis, Di Loria, Ceniti and Carluccio.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-18 PubMed ID: 33392295PubMed Central: PMC7775520DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.602984Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 is about understanding the range of the normal blood and serum parameters in the Martina Franca donkey breed. It also determines how age affects these values. The paper provides a reference for vets and conservationists working on the preservation of the endangered breed.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aims to establish baseline values for blood and serum parameters in the Martina Franca donkey (MFd), an endangered Italian breed, and also to investigate how these values change with age.
  • The research involved 81 healthy MFds of varying ages. The animals were divided into three groups based on age: foals (less than 1 year), young animals (1 to 3 years), and adult animals (over 3 years).
  • The parameters analyzed included various hematological (related to blood) and biochemical (related to serum) aspects.
  • Hematological parameters tested encompassed red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet factors. Biochemical parameters included various enzymes, proteins, and components like cholesterol, glucose, and minerals.
  • The study used a one-way ANOVA test to investigate the effect of age on these parameters.

Findings

  • The research found that the age of the donkeys did not affect certain parameters such as total white blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet-related factors.
  • However, age influenced some parameters. Certain white blood cell aspects showed age-dependent variations. The red blood cell count, for example, decreased with age, while mean corpuscular volume and hemoglobin increased.
  • Several biochemical parameters also decreased with age, including sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, certain enzymes, creatinine, glucose, and cholesterol.
  • However, one enzyme (aspartate aminotransferase) and total serum protein increased with age.
  • Albumin levels decreased in young donkeys but increased to foal levels in older animals. Blood urea nitrogen and triglycerides did not differ among the age groups.

Implications

  • The study results show that age can affect various hematological and biochemical parameters in the MFd breed.
  • Compared to other donkey breeds and horses, the MFd breed shows unique characteristics that veterinarians and those involved in conservation strategies must consider.
  • The findings can thus serve as a reference when assessing the health of the endangered breed and planning their conservation efforts.

Cite This Article

APA
Trimboli F, De Amicis I, Di Loria A, Ceniti C, Carluccio A. (2020). Reference Ranges for Hematological and Biochemical Profile of Martina Franca Donkeys. Front Vet Sci, 7, 602984. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.602984

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: 602984
PII: 602984

Researcher Affiliations

Trimboli, Francesca
  • Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health, Department of Health Science, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
De Amicis, Ippolito
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
Di Loria, Antonio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Ceniti, Carlotta
  • Interdepartmental Services Centre of Veterinary for Human and Animal Health, Department of Health Science, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
Carluccio, Augusto
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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