Leukocyte modifications during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals

Abstract

During early post-partum period both neonatal foals and peripartum mares are most susceptible to diseases. The aim of this study was to establish physiologic modifications of leukogram during the first month after foaling in mares and their newborn foals. To this end blood samples were collected from nine mares and nine foals (T0-T10), every three days from the 1st day until the 30th day after foaling. Samples were analysed for white blood cell (WBC) count and differential leucocyte counts.Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed, in postpartum mares WBC showed significant higher values at T0 (9.02±0.76) in respect to other time points, and at T2 (8.08±0.53) and T3 (7.92±0.59) compared to T1 (6.98±0.43), whereas in foals lower WBC values at T0 (6.11±0.49) compared to other experimental periods except T1 (6.90±0.94), and at T1 compared to T8 (7.95±0.61) and T10 (7.90±0.36) were observed.The differential leucocyte counts showed significant modifications in the percentage of neutrophils (π<0.001) and lymphocytes (p<0.001) both in postpartum mares and in foals during the experimental period.Furthermore ANOVA showed significant differences between postpartum mares and foals (P<0.01) in all studied parameters, and between postpartum mares and control mares in WBC and neutrophils values.The obtained results provide suitable information about the influence of foaling on leukogram of periparturient mares and reveal WBC dynamics in newborn foals during the first month post-partum.

Recent Advances in Camel Immunology

“…Immunomodulation during pregnancy is not restricted to the local uterine environment but extends also into the periphery ( 155 , 156 ). Pregnancy-associated immunomodulation has been addressed by a large number of studies in pregnant women ( 157 ), cows ( 158 , 159 ), mares ( 160 , 161 ), and sows ( 162 – 165 ). A recent study investigated the impact of pregnancy on the phenotype and function of she-camel blood leukocytes ( 60 ).…”

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility and select hematologic variables in postparturient mares and their foals

“…During the neonatal and postpartum phase, substantial physiologic adjustments take place in foals and mares . To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies investigated the EOF in healthy postparturient mares and neonatal foals.…”

Early Pregnancy in Jennies in the Caribbean: Corpus Luteum Development and Progesterone Production, Uterine and Embryo Dynamics, Conceptus Growth and Maturation

“…These changes are not necessarily indicative of disease, but make animals physiologically unstable and more susceptible to a number of metabolic diseases at this stage than during other life periods, compromising health status, welfare, and productivity. Many papers are currently available on this topic, and, while the mare has been extensively studied [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ], few studies have explored early pregnancy in jennies [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. The published literature focuses on the significant differences between jennies, mares, and ponies, but although one study has described some characteristics of early pregnancy in jennies [ 7 ]; none fully define the daily progression of jennies’ early pregnancy.…”