Abstract
The common domestic equine species present various hematological differences within reference values as a result of age, breed, sex, physical activity, among others. Therefore, it is important that reference intervals should be established for these particularities. This work aimed to evaluate sequential changes in hematological parameters of healthy Thoroughbred foals from birth to six months of life. Blood samples were collected immediately after birth (before the intake of colostrum), at 24 h, 7 days, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months of age in order to measure packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein (TPP), fibrinogen and white blood cells (WBC). Descriptive statistics, analysis of one-way AOV and comparison between means by LSD test were accomplished. Hematological values were assessed in 1426 samples. The curve variations in PCV, total plasma protein, fibrinogen and WBC values observed in healthy Thoroughbred foals from birth to 6 months were similar to those described for other breeds. However, we verified higher TPP values than mean reference values at all ages. The ranges of fibrinogen and WBC showed small intervals and maximum values below the hematologic reference values for all ages. These changes in hematologic values provide useful information for clinical evaluation of Thoroughbred foals.
Highlights
The common domestic equine species present various hematological differences within reference values as a result of age, breed, sex, physical activity, among others
The partial hematologic values consisted of packed cell volume (PCV), total plasma protein (TPP), fibrinogen and total leukocytes, which were measured on nine (9) occasions: immediately after birth, at 24h, 7 days, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th month of age
In this study we found that between 24h and three months of age TPP values remained stable
Summary
The common domestic equine species present various hematological differences within reference values as a result of age, breed, sex, physical activity, among others. Hematological tests are an important tool for monitoring the overall health of the entire population of foals on equine farms, since certain parameters are early indicators of pathological processes. Foal hematological values change constantly during the gestational and neonatal periods and in the first months of life[2]. Hematological profile is commonly performed in equine medicine for a variety of reasons: to screen clinically healthy animals, to identify conditions that might increase the risk during anesthesia or surgery, to diagnose a disease and to assess its severity and consequences, to formulate a prognosis and to monitor the response to therapy or the progression of the disease[3]. Hotblooded horses (Arab and Thoroughbred) have been found to have higher RBC counts, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, and blood volume compared to cold-blooded horses (draft horse and pony)[1]
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