Influence of Type of Use, Age and Gender on Haematological and Biochemical Blood Parameters of Małopolski Horses

The effect of solarium light therapy on selected biological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in young and old horses

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of solarium light therapy on selected biological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in recreational horses. The study involved 10 horses divided into two groups of young (aged 5 to 7 years) and old (aged 14 to 19 years) individuals. All animals participated in light therapy sessions every other day. Blood was sampled three times during the study: before the treatment, after five light sessions, and after ten light sessions. Morphological parameters, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, TAS values, and the levels of glutathione (GSH), vitamin D3, vitamin C, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the whole blood. Light therapy contributed to an increase in MCV, HDW, MCVr, CHr and MPV indices, and simultaneously a decrease in the basophil counts, MCHC, RDW and CHCMr indices in both groups of horses (p ≤ 0.05). At the same time reticulocytes fell in older whereas white blood cells and monocytes counts expanded in younger individuals. The treatment also increased the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in young but decreased the activity of mentioned enzymes in blood plasma of old horses. The total antioxidant status (TAS) of the blood plasma rose progressively, whereas GSH levels declined in all individuals. Moreover, vitamin D3 levels did not change, whereas vitamin C levels gradually decreased during the experiment. The therapy also helped to reduce levels of MDA in the blood plasma, especially of older horses (p ≤ 0.05). In turn, GPx and GR activities as well as MDA levels significantly declined, whereas GSH levels notably elevated in erythrocytes (p ≤ 0.05). Solarium light therapy appears to have a beneficial impact on the morphological parameters and antioxidant status of blood in recreational horses in the winter season. However, the observed results could in part be attributed to the natural physiological adaptation of each individual organism to the treatment.

The Effect of Repeated Blood Harvesting from Pregnant Mares on Haematological Variables

Studies have been carried out on the effect of large-volume blood harvesting from horses, but they were performed on nonpregnant horses of various breeds other than Icelandic horses. This study aimed to investigate the effect on the haematological variables indicating erythropoiesis of repeated blood harvesting from pregnant mares. To account for regional variation, two herds of mares were chosen, both kept under free-range conditions. Sequential EDTA blood samples were collected weekly from 160 mares and analysed for haematological variables in an automated analyser. Serum samples from 115 mares were analysed for total protein. In both herds, after three harvests, mares began to measure below the minimum value for erythrocyte numbers, and mild anaemia was present in up to 37% at one time. Mares in only one herd had moderate or marked anaemia, 14.3% of the herd. Both herds showed evidence of increased erythropoiesis, but there was a difference between the herds in the intensity of the response. In both herds, however, all mares had reached the minimum normal haematocrit value three weeks after the last harvest. It is important to investigate the causes for the differences between these herds, which might be addressed to reduce the risk of anaemia.

Effect of Dietary Flaxseed Oil Supplementation on the Redox Status, Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Horses' Blood

Simple Summary

Flaxseed oils have long been used in animal feeding and human nutrition due to the beneficial effects of their biologically active substances, especially omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the replacement of soybean oil (SO) with flaxseed oil (FO) in the horses’ diet on biochemical, haematological, and redox status parameters of the blood. We found FO contributed to an improvement of lipid profile, haematological parameters of the blood and enhanced antioxidant defence mechanisms of horses. This suggests that substitution of SO with FO in the diet of horses is beneficial for their health status.

Abstract

This study compared the effect of two dietary vegetable oils on plasma biochemical indices, haematological parameters, and redox status of horses. Forty riding horses (20 mares and 20 stallions) of the Malopolski breed were divided equally into two groups that were similar in terms of age, sex, and body weight (on average 530 ± 30 kg). The horses received soybean oil (SO) or flaxseed oil (FO) in the amount of 25 mL per 100 kg BW/day. After 60 days, blood was collected for biochemical and haematological analyses. The results show that horses receiving FO as compared to the SO group had significantly lower plasma levels of glucose, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and triacylglycerols, as well as the activities of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase. In turn, %HDL-TC and lactate dehydrogenase activity were significantly higher in the FO group. The inclusion of FO in the diet contributed to an increase in antioxidant indices: creatinine, vitamin C, copper, and zinc contents and also superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The level of the end product of lipid peroxidation, i.e., malonyl dialdehyde, in the FO group as compared to the SO group was significantly lower. Moreover, FO caused an elevation in red blood cell indicators, lymphocyte count and lysozymes. In conclusion, FO exerts a beneficial effect by stimulating antioxidant defence mechanisms of horses and reducing the severity of oxidative stress. FO also improved the lipid profile and haematological parameters of the blood. The replacement of SO by FO is recommended based on these findings.

Age- and Sex-Related Modifications of Hematology in Spanish Purebred Horse

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that age and sex significantly modulate the changes in hematological parameters of physiologically healthy Spanish Purebred horse, establishing the reference values. Blood samples were obtained on a total of 159 horses (n = 77 males and n = 82 females), classified in four age groups: group A (1-2 years; n = 39), group B (>2-3 years; n = 38), group C (>3-4 years; n = 41), and group D (>4-7 years; n = 41). By means ADVIA 2020i, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (HB), packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets (PLTs), as well as total and differential white blood cells (WBCs) were determined. Total plasma protein was determined by spectrophotometry. Results obtained showed that sex had a limited influence on these parameters, being the HB higher in males and WBC higher in females (P = .047). Age caused a reduction in RBC, with a compensatory increase of MCV and MCH, decrease in WBC, PLT, lymphocytes (LYMPs), as well as an increase of N/L ratio (P = .047). Interactions between age and sex showed higher RBC in males than in females of the group B, and higher HB and WBC in males than in females of the group D. According to hematological data, Spanish Purebred horse was classified as a warm- or cold-blooded horse. Decline of RBC, WBC, and PLT parameters is a natural condition of horse with the advance of age, indicating a decrease of the narrow bone response.