Total and free iodothyronine changes in response to transport of Equidae (Equus asinus and Equus caballus).

This research investigates the changes in iodothyronine levels in donkeys and horses during short-distance road transport, concluding that travel triggers activation of the thyroid gland with observable changes in hormone levels.

Research Objective

• The main goal of this study was to examine the impact of short-distance road travel on total and free iodothyronine hormone changes in 12 stallions, constituting six donkeys (Equus asinus) and six horses (Equus caballus).

Methodology

• The animals were transported for a distance of 50 kilometers.
• Blood samples were collected from the animals one week before travel in their basal state, again one week later immediately prior to loading them for transport, and lastly after completing the transport and unloading them.

Findings

• Upon completion of transportation, it was observed that the donkeys demonstrated significant increases in their circulating T4, fT3, and fT4 levels.
• Contrastingly, horses exhibited significant increases in their circulating T3, fT3, and fT4 levels.
• Upon comparison, it was noted that horses had lower T4 levels than donkeys under basal conditions, before transport, and after transport.
• Horses showed higher fT3 values than donkeys before transport but had lower values than donkeys after the transport. They also had higher fT4 values in basal conditions.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that short-distance road transport induces activity in the thyroid gland of both horses and donkeys resulting in hormone release. Notably, differing patterns of hormone release were observed between the two, with a preference for releasing T3 in horses and T4 in donkeys after transporation.