Serum Chemistry and Hematology Changes in Neonatal Stock-Type Foals During the First 72 Hours of Life.

The research investigates the changes in blood chemistry and hematology in healthy neonatal stock-type foals during the first 72 hours of their lives, comparing these findings with adult horse reference ranges.

Research Objective

• The main aim of this research was to understand the changes in the serum chemistry and hematology of newborn stock-type foals during their first 72 hours of life. The researchers also wanted to compare these observations with the standard reference ranges of adult horses.

Methodology

• The 3-year study was conducted using 16 healthy stock-type foals born to similarly managed mares.
• Blood was collected at specific time intervals – 0 hours (before nursing but after standing, within 85 minutes of birth), and at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the initial blood draw.
• The collected data were analyzed with sampling hour, year, and their interaction as fixed effects.

Results & Findings

• Within 24 hours of birth, concentrations of serum glucose and triglyceride in the foals’ blood increased significantly.
• Between 24 to 48 hours, triglycerides continued to rise while glucose levels declined.
• The level of serum nonesterified fatty acids increased from birth to 6 hours and sharply decreased from 6 to 24 hours.
• Serum urea nitrogen showed a similar trend, skyrocketing between birth and 6 hours, followed by a gradual decline from 12 to 72 hours.
• There were significant changes in serum total protein and globulin concentrations, which rose from birth to 12 hours. Serum albumin levels dropped from birth to 24 hours, and creatinine progressively decreased from birth to 72 hours.
• The study also found that the sampling time could influence the concentrations of electrolytes, metabolic enzymes, and all hematological components, except mean corpuscular hemoglobin.

Conclusion

• The researchers concluded that the blood biochemistry and hematological compositions in foals undergo noticeable changes within the first 72 hours of life. These dynamics should be considered when evaluating individual neonates, as they can influence the interpretation of the results.