Haematology of foals up to one year old

Abstract

Summary Packed ceil volume, haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte counts, erythrocyte indices, serum iron, iron binding capacities, total and differential leucocyte counts, platelet counts, total plasma protein, fibrinogen, haptoglobin and icterus index values were determined at 14 different ages in eight Thoroughbred and 14 Quarterhorse foals during the first year of life. Absolute neutrophil numbers in blood decreased and lymphocyte numbers increased during the first months. Absolute eosinophil numbers tended to increase until three months old. Haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume decreased significantly during the first two weeks and generally stayed in the lower portion of adult horse normal ranges during the remainder of the first year. Mean cell volume decreased to minimum values at approximately four months and then gradually increased. Serum iron was high at birth and decreased rapidly to a minimum at three days old. Total iron‐binding capacity increased to a maximum at one month. Serum haptoglobin was generally within the adult normal range at birth. A moderate, but significant, decrease occurred at one week old. Fibrinogen concentration increased to a maximum at five months. Icterus index values decreased rapidly during the first two weeks of life. Minor changes occurred in other parameters measured. Possible causes for the various changes in haematological parameters are discussed.

Nitrogenous metabolism in Thoroughbred and Arabian foals from birth to five months of age

“…Data obtained from researches on foals are scarce and not univocal and can be explained with the metabolic adjustments which occur during growth in young animals. In this study, the same behavior was also observed for both breeds, with a statistical significant decrease (P<0.05), which is in agreement with previous studies (Rose et al, 1979;Harvey et al, 1984;Edwards et al, 1990). It can be related to the rapid growth and muscular development of the foal during the first months of life.…”

“…Regarding foals, with the exception of some studies on metabolic profile (Sato et al, 1978) and blood parameters (Jeffcott et al, 1982;Bauer et al, 1984;Harvey et al, 1984), data from literature are scarce and not univocal. Muscular development occurs during the first year of life in the horse (Martin-Rosset et al, 1983).…”

Perfil bioquímico sérico de equinos clinicamente sadios da raça Campeiro

“…Isso leva à necessidade da realização de exames complementares, a fim de obter máxima precisão diagnóstica e, consequentemente, de prognóstico, direcionando qual a melhor terapia a ser instituída (Kaneko et al,. 2008;Neves et al, 2005;Harvey et al, 1984). Entre estes, a bioquímica clínica é de extrema importância nas avaliações das funções e/ou lesões renal, hepática e muscular, estando estas cada vez mais direcionadas às diferentes espécies e às variações intraespecíficas (Kaneko et al, 2008).…”

Hematologic values of thoroughbred foals from birth to six months of age

“…Therefore, for adequate clinical evaluation of the foal it is indispensable to have accurate knowledge about hematological reference values according to individual age and breed. Previous studies of hematological changes in foals, while informative, were inadequate due to the following reasons: (1) small number of samples, (2) inadequate duration of sampling protocol, (3) inadequate frequency of sampling, especially during the early period of life, (4) use of ponies rather than full-size horses 4 . Even after almost two decades, these breedrelated differences in foals have not been completely elucidated, and there are few articles providing data regarding hematological changes in healthy foals 4 .…”