Haematological response associated with repeted show jumping competition in horse

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of exercise; even in human that in horse, but exercise could also represent a physical stress that challenging body homeostasis. Exercise stress pushes the body to find a dynamic equilibrium through adaptive changes to ensure proper management of stress caused by maximal exercise. These changes affect various composition of body fluids, in particular changes in blood composition including an increase in Red Blood Cells (RBC), Hematocrit (Hct) and Hemoglobin (Hgb) values and a change in Platelets (Plt) count. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of repeated jumping exercise on haematological parameters in horse.Material, Methods & Results: For this purpose we evaluated the modifications occurring in cell blood count (CBC) in horses during two international three stars *** show jumping competition performed in two consecutive weekend. After routine clinical examination, twelve well trained Italian Saddle horses were enrolled for this study. For every subject, Red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), haemoglobin (HGB) and platelets (PLT) were assessed. Blood samples were collected: in the morning after the meal (7:30-8:00 AM), before the beginning of the competition (R1 ) and within 10 min after competition ending (C1 S1 , C1 S2 ) and on the day after competition (R2 ). The same procedure was followed on the second weekend (C2 S1 , C2 S2 , R3 ). Whole blood samples were placed on ice pending analysis that were performed within 2 h after collection and immediately taken to the laboratory for analysis. The obtained data were analyzed with Stats package of R: R Core Team (2013). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect on sampling time (P < 0.05) concerning every studied parameter. In particular a significant increase of RBC in C1 S1, C1 S2 , C2 S1 and C2 S2 versus R1 , R2 and R3.[...](AU)

Haematological response associated with repeted show jumping competition in horse

Background: Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effect of exercise; even in human that in horse, but exercise could also represent a physical stress that challenging body homeostasis. Exercise stress pushes the body to find a dynamic equilibrium through adaptive changes to ensure proper management of stress caused by maximal exercise. These changes affect various composition of body fluids, in particular changes in blood composition including an increase in Red Blood Cells (RBC), Hematocrit (Hct) and Hemoglobin (Hgb) values and a change in Platelets (Plt) count. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of repeated jumping exercise on haematological parameters in horse.Material, Methods & Results: For this purpose we evaluated the modifications occurring in cell blood count (CBC) in horses during two international three stars *** show jumping competition performed in two consecutive weekend. After routine clinical examination, twelve well trained Italian Saddle horses were enrolled for this study. For every subject, Red blood cell (RBC), haematocrit (HCT), haemoglobin (HGB) and platelets (PLT) were assessed. Blood samples were collected: in the morning after the meal (7:30-8:00 AM), before the beginning of the competition (R1 ) and within 10 min after competition ending (C1 S1 , C1 S2 ) and on the day after competition (R2 ). The same procedure was followed on the second weekend (C2 S1 , C2 S2 , R3 ). Whole blood samples were placed on ice pending analysis that were performed within 2 h after collection and immediately taken to the laboratory for analysis. The obtained data were analyzed with Stats package of R: R Core Team (2013). One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant effect on sampling time (P < 0.05) concerning every studied parameter. In particular a significant increase of RBC in C1 S1, C1 S2 , C2 S1 and C2 S2 versus R1 , R2 and R3.[...]

Evaluation of heart rate as marker of stress during road transport in horses

Background: Nowadays horse transportation represents an increasingly practice as a greater number of horses are subjected to transport for several purpose including sport competitions, breeding and selling. In the past, horses were usually transported by train and ship however, at the present time, they move mainly by road with trailers or vans. Transport represents a potential stressor that might compromise horse performance therefore, the chance to monitor horse welfare during transportation is of great interest. The autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function have been considered suitable indicators of stress and welfare in humans and animals. Measuring the vagal tone provide a best knowledge about stress vulnerability and the magnitude of a stress response. Considering that heart rate (HR) represents the effect of the vagus, the aim of this study was to evaluate if this parameter is an affordable indicator of stress in horses subjected to different experimental conditions concerning the duration and the time of the day of road transportation. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve clinically healthy athletic Italian Saddle horses, divided into three equal groups, were transported over two different distances (110 Km and 225 Km) at the same time of the day (5.00 pm) (group A and B), and over the same distance (110 Km) during the evening (5.00 pm) and during the morning (8.00 am) (group A and C). Each journey was divided into 3 parts (T1, T2, T3) on the basis of road characteristics: T1 and T3 periods represented the time spent travelling on secondary roads characterized by several changes of direction and average speed of 35-40 Km/h; T2 was travel duration on nearly completely rectilinear motorways with average speed of 70 Km/h. Mean HR recorded at rest for each horse was 38 ± 3 beats/min. On HR values recorded during transportation one-way ANOVA showed significant statistical differences of HR values in T2 vs T1 and T3 periods within the group A (P < 0.0001) and C (P = 0.003); no significant statistical difference was found in T1, T2 and T3 periods within group B. T tests showed that mean HR values were lower in group B than in group A, and higher in group C than group A only in T2. Discussion: Even if transport includes a series of potential stressors such as handling, loading, unloading, unfamiliar environments, oscillation and vibration of the mean of transport, noise, social regrouping, poor ventilation, deprivation of both food and water; in the present study our recordings showed that HR changed irrespective of the experimental characteristics of the journey including the different duration of each transportation. We found that neither the average speed of the mean of transport or the characteristics of the road determined significant changes in horse HR. We also found no influence of the time of the day on HR trend during transportation in horses. This might be due to the fact that HR varied when posture and other external stimuli changed during transport masking the biological rhythms that usually affect the cardiovascular activity and the HR diurnal variability that suits the needs of different levels of activity at different time of the day. On the basis of these results, HR seemed to be an extremely variable parameter profoundly affected by the temporary responses of the horses to sudden environmental incidents.

Evaluation of heart rate as marker of stress during road transport in horses / Evaluation of heart rate as marker of stress during road transport in horses

Background: Nowadays horse transportation represents an increasingly practice as a greater number of horses are subjected to transport for several purpose including sport competitions, breeding and selling. In the past, horses were usually transported by train and ship however, at the present time, they move mainly by road with trailers or vans. Transport represents a potential stressor that might compromise horse performance therefore, the chance to monitor horse welfare during transportation is of great interest. The autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function have been considered suitable indicators of stress and welfare in humans and animals. Measuring the vagal tone provide a best knowledge about stress vulnerability and the magnitude of a stress response. Considering that heart rate (HR) represents the effect of the vagus, the aim of this study was to evaluate if this parameter is an affordable indicator of stress in horses subjected to different experimental conditions concerning the duration and the time of the day of road transportation. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve clinically healthy athletic Italian Saddle horses, divided into three equal groups, were transported over two different distances (110 Km and 225 Km) at the same time of the day (5.00 pm) (group A and B), and over the same distance (110 Km) during the evening (5.00 pm)

Background: Nowadays horse transportation represents an increasingly practice as a greater number of horses are subjected to transport for several purpose including sport competitions, breeding and selling. In the past, horses were usually transported by train and ship however, at the present time, they move mainly by road with trailers or vans. Transport represents a potential stressor that might compromise horse performance therefore, the chance to monitor horse welfare during transportation is of great interest. The autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function have been considered suitable indicators of stress and welfare in humans and animals. Measuring the vagal tone provide a best knowledge about stress vulnerability and the magnitude of a stress response. Considering that heart rate (HR) represents the effect of the vagus, the aim of this study was to evaluate if this parameter is an affordable indicator of stress in horses subjected to different experimental conditions concerning the duration and the time of the day of road transportation. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve clinically healthy athletic Italian Saddle horses, divided into three equal groups, were transported over two different distances (110 Km and 225 Km) at the same time of the day (5.00 pm) (group A and B), and over the same distance (110 Km) during the evening (5.00 pm)

Pulsed wavedoppler ultrasonographic evaluation of mammary blood flows speed in cows during different productive periods

Circulatory phenomena are complex organic functions that depend on several factors as blood viscosity, vascular walls elasticity, cardiac pump rhythm, discontinuous activity, various resistance to blood flow in tissues and spontaneous or induced vasomotor responses. Doppler ultrasonographic method is a valid tool for performing mammary blood flow recordings. Seven Bruna Italiana cows (average age 5 years) during 3 different period of lactation (40, 100, 210 days after the delivery) and during the dry period (290 days after the delivery) were used for our study. Systolic and diastolic flow speeds recordings of right and left external pudendal arteries (before the cranial and the caudal mammary bifurcation) were carried out on each subjects by means of a Pulsed Doppler System. By appliyng repeated measures ANOVA between the different lactation phases and the dry period systolic and diastolic blood flows both for right and left external pudendal artery showed the same pattern. The systolic speed of right and left external pudendal arteries showed the following statistical significances: systolic speed before milking (F (3,18)=37.71; P

Pulsed wavedoppler ultrasonographic evaluation of mammary blood flows speed in cows during different productive periods

Circulatory phenomena are complex organic functions that depend on several factors as blood viscosity, vascular walls elasticity, cardiac pump rhythm, discontinuous activity, various resistance to blood flow in tissues and spontaneous or induced vasomotor responses. Doppler ultrasonographic method is a valid tool for performing mammary blood flow recordings. Seven Bruna Italiana cows (average age 5 years) during 3 different period of lactation (40, 100, 210 days after the delivery) and during the dry period (290 days after the delivery) were used for our study. Systolic and diastolic flow speeds recordings of right and left external pudendal arteries (before the cranial and the caudal mammary bifurcation) were carried out on each subjects by means of a Pulsed Doppler System. By appliyng repeated measures ANOVA between the different lactation phases and the dry period systolic and diastolic blood flows both for right and left external pudendal artery showed the same pattern. The systolic speed of right and left external pudendal arteries showed the following statistical significances: systolic speed before milking (F (3,18)=37.71; P

Thirty-day rhythmicity in electrocardiographic and electrolytic parameters in the athletic horse

This paper describes circatrigintan progress of some electrocardiographic parameters and of the serum electrolytes in the jumper horse during a period of pre-competitive training performed in order to define the temporal organization of some parameters employed to evaluate the athletic performance of the horse. Five Sella Italiana horses, clinically healthy and specifically trained have been utilized for the study. All the subjects have undergone electrocardiographic recordings and blood sample takings by means of jugular venopuncture, at rest and always at the same hour, every five days for a period of one month. The following electrocardiographic parameters have been measured on individual ECG-recordings: P wave duration and amplitude, P-Q interval duration, QRS complex duration, R wave amplitude, T wave duration, S-T segment duration, Q-T interval duration, the longest and shortest R-R intervals; besides, mean R-R interval and D R-R, the highest, lowest and mean heart rate, have been calculated. The concentrations of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and chlorine and of sodium and potassium have been determined on the blood samples, respectively by UV spectrophotometry and by flaming. The application of a statistic trigonometric model has permitted to point out the circatrigintan periodicity of the following electrocardiographic parameters: P wave duration, T wave duration, R w

Thirty-day rhythmicity in electrocardiographic and electrolytic parameters in the athletic horse

This paper describes circatrigintan progress of some electrocardiographic parameters and of the serum electrolytes in the jumper horse during a period of pre-competitive training performed in order to define the temporal organization of some parameters employed to evaluate the athletic performance of the horse. Five Sella Italiana horses, clinically healthy and specifically trained have been utilized for the study. All the subjects have undergone electrocardiographic recordings and blood sample takings by means of jugular venopuncture, at rest and always at the same hour, every five days for a period of one month. The following electrocardiographic parameters have been measured on individual ECG-recordings: P wave duration and amplitude, P-Q interval duration, QRS complex duration, R wave amplitude, T wave duration, S-T segment duration, Q-T interval duration, the longest and shortest R-R intervals; besides, mean R-R interval and D R-R, the highest, lowest and mean heart rate, have been calculated. The concentrations of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and chlorine and of sodium and potassium have been determined on the blood samples, respectively by UV spectrophotometry and by flaming. The application of a statistic trigonometric model has permitted to point out the circatrigintan periodicity of the following electrocardiographic parameters: P wave duration, T wave duration, R w

Thirty-day rhythmicity in electrocardiographic and electrolytic parameters in the athletic horse

This paper describes circatrigintan progress of some electrocardiographic parameters and of the serum electrolytes in the jumper horse during a period of pre-competitive training performed in order to define the temporal organization of some parameters employed to evaluate the athletic performance of the horse. Five Sella Italiana horses, clinically healthy and specifically trained have been utilized for the study. All the subjects have undergone electrocardiographic recordings and blood sample takings by means of jugular venopuncture, at rest and always at the same hour, every five days for a period of one month. The following electrocardiographic parameters have been measured on individual ECG-recordings: P wave duration and amplitude, P-Q interval duration, QRS complex duration, R wave amplitude, T wave duration, S-T segment duration, Q-T interval duration, the longest and shortest R-R intervals; besides, mean R-R interval and D R-R, the highest, lowest and mean heart rate, have been calculated. The concentrations of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and chlorine and of sodium and potassium have been determined on the blood samples, respectively by UV spectrophotometry and by flaming. The application of a statistic trigonometric model has permitted to point out the circatrigintan periodicity of the following electrocardiographic parameters: P wave duration, T wave duration, R w

Pulsed wavedoppler ultrasonographic evaluation of mammary blood flows speed in cows during different productive periods

Circulatory phenomena are complex organic functions that depend on several factors as blood viscosity, vascular walls elasticity, cardiac pump rhythm, discontinuous activity, various resistance to blood flow in tissues and spontaneous or induced vasomotor responses. Doppler ultrasonographic method is a valid tool for performing mammary blood flow recordings. Seven Bruna Italiana cows (average age 5 years) during 3 different period of lactation (40, 100, 210 days after the delivery) and during the dry period (290 days after the delivery) were used for our study. Systolic and diastolic flow speeds recordings of right and left external pudendal arteries (before the cranial and the caudal mammary bifurcation) were carried out on each subjects by means of a Pulsed Doppler System. By appliyng repeated measures ANOVA between the different lactation phases and the dry period systolic and diastolic blood flows both for right and left external pudendal artery showed the same pattern. The systolic speed of right and left external pudendal arteries showed the following statistical significances: systolic speed before milking (F (3,18)=37.71; P

Evaluation of heart rate as marker of stress during road transport in horses / Evaluation of heart rate as marker of stress during road transport in horses

Background: Nowadays horse transportation represents an increasingly practice as a greater number of horses are subjected to transport for several purpose including sport competitions, breeding and selling. In the past, horses were usually transported by train and ship however, at the present time, they move mainly by road with trailers or vans. Transport represents a potential stressor that might compromise horse performance therefore, the chance to monitor horse welfare during transportation is of great interest. The autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function have been considered suitable indicators of stress and welfare in humans and animals. Measuring the vagal tone provide a best knowledge about stress vulnerability and the magnitude of a stress response. Considering that heart rate (HR) represents the effect of the vagus, the aim of this study was to evaluate if this parameter is an affordable indicator of stress in horses subjected to different experimental conditions concerning the duration and the time of the day of road transportation. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve clinically healthy athletic Italian Saddle horses, divided into three equal groups, were transported over two different distances (110 Km and 225 Km) at the same time of the day (5.00 pm) (group A and B), and over the same distance (110 Km) during the evening (5.00 pm)

Background: Nowadays horse transportation represents an increasingly practice as a greater number of horses are subjected to transport for several purpose including sport competitions, breeding and selling. In the past, horses were usually transported by train and ship however, at the present time, they move mainly by road with trailers or vans. Transport represents a potential stressor that might compromise horse performance therefore, the chance to monitor horse welfare during transportation is of great interest. The autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function have been considered suitable indicators of stress and welfare in humans and animals. Measuring the vagal tone provide a best knowledge about stress vulnerability and the magnitude of a stress response. Considering that heart rate (HR) represents the effect of the vagus, the aim of this study was to evaluate if this parameter is an affordable indicator of stress in horses subjected to different experimental conditions concerning the duration and the time of the day of road transportation. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve clinically healthy athletic Italian Saddle horses, divided into three equal groups, were transported over two different distances (110 Km and 225 Km) at the same time of the day (5.00 pm) (group A and B), and over the same distance (110 Km) during the evening (5.00 pm)