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Serum Lipid Modification Related to Exercise and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation in Jumpers and Thoroughbred Horses
No full textThe importance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) within the different biological functions of animals has been widely recognized. In this study, exercise and PUFAs supplementation effects on serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) concentration were evaluated in athletic horses. Two sport horse types (10 Italian saddle jumpers and 10 Thoroughbreds) were equally divided into two groups. Jumpers and Thoroughbred experimental groups (AJ and AT) received 4-week PUFAs supplementation and control groups (BJ and BT) received no dietary supplement. Before starting the PUFAs supplementation (T0) and at the end of the experimental period (T4), horses were subjected to simulated events. From each subject, blood samples were collected every 7days at rest, before and after the first test (T0R and T0PE), and before and after the second test (T4R and T4PE). Higher triglycerides and NEFA concentrations at T0PE and T4PE than T0R and T4R in both groups were found as a result of exercise (P < .005), but lower triglycerides and NEFA concentrations at T4PE in group AJ than group BJ (P < .05) and in group AT (P < .005) than group BT were found as a result of PUFAs supplementation. Effects of PUFAs supplementation was highlighted by the statistically significant lower triglycerides and NEFA concentrations found at T4PE than T0PE in groups AJ (P < .05) and AT (triglycerides: P < .05; NEFAs: P < .0001)
Erythrocyte osmotic fragility and select hematologic variables in postparturient mares and their foals
No full textBackground: Knowledge of hematologic function in postparturient mares and foals is crucial for the monitoring of their health status and for the prompt diagnosis of pathologic conditions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and select hematologic variables in mares and their foals during the first month after foaling. Methods: Blood samples were collected from each animal every 3 days from day 1 until day 30 after foaling, and tested for RBC count, HGB, HCT, MCV, and EOF. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc comparison test were applied to determine the effects of time and age (mares vs foals). Pearson correlation coefficients were computed for EOF and time or MCV values. Results: There was a significant effect of time in RBC, HGB, HCT, and EOF (P <.001). Statistically significant differences were observed between mares and foals for RBC, MCV, and EOF (P <.05) throughout the experimental period. Significant correlations between EOF and both time and MCV (P <.05) were found in mares as well as in foals. Conclusion: These results contribute to the understanding of perinatal changes in hematologic variables in mares and foals. In addition, the data support the relevance of specific reference intervals for postparturient mares and foals. The findings also provide useful information that could help clinicians to better interpret clinical data and diagnose equine disease
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Food Enrichment Influences Some Serum Acute Phase Proteins Concentration and White Blood Cell Count in Athlete Horses
No full textThe effect of exercise and dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen (Fb), and white blood cell (WBC) count was studied in eight Italian Saddlebreds jumper and eight Thoroughbred horses. Horses were divided into four groups: two experimental groups including four jumpers (AJ) and four Thoroughbreds (AT) that received 4-week PUFAs supplementation and two control groups including four jumpers (BJ) and four Thoroughbreds (BT). Blood samples were collected before the starting of PUFAs supplementation at rest (T0R), 10 minutes (T0PE10), and 24 hours postexercise (T0PE24) and after PUFAs supplementation at rest (T1R), 10 minutes (T1PE10), and 24 hours postexercise (T1PE24). All horses showed a WBC increase after exercise (P < 0001). Higher Fb values were found in experimental groups than control groups at T1R, T1PE10, and T1PE24 (P < 005). Serum amyloid A values changed (P < 001) at T0R and T0PE10 vs. T0PE24 and at T1R and T1PE10 vs T1PE24 in experimental and control groups. Higher SAA values were found in experimental groups than control groups at T1R, T1PE10, and T1PE24 (P < 005). Our findings showed that SAA concentration changed 24 hours after exercise, but it remains unchanged shortly after exercise. These results suggest that the evaluation of SAA immediately after exercise is not clinically useful and demonstrate that the intense exercise is able to induce an acute phase response although it is a noninflammatory condition. The significant effect of dietary PUFAs supplementation found on Fb and SAA levels emphases the PUFAs' property of modulating inflammation in jumper and Thoroughbred horses
Physiological Correlation between Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis, Leptin, UCP1 and Lipid Panel in Mares during Late Pregnancy and Early Postpartum Period
Full text linkThis study aimed to investigate the dynamic change of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, leptin, mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), lipids and lipoproteins in mares during late pregnancy and the postpartum period. A total of 20 mares (10 pregnant mares, monitored from 14 ± 2 days before expected foaling until 14 days after foaling, Group A; 10 non-pregnant and non-lactating mares, Group B) were enrolled in the study. Body Condition Score (BCS) and body weight (BW) values were recorded from each animal. In Group A, blood samples were collected on days 14 ± 2 and 7 ± 2 before foaling (T−14; T−7), and on days 7 and 14 after foaling (T+7; T+14). From mares of Group B, blood samples were collected at the beginning of the study. The levels of ACTH, cortisol, leptin, UCP1, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), triglycerides and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) were investigated. While BCS showed no statistical change throughout the monitoring period (p > 0.05), all the other studied parameters displayed statistically significant variations in Group A over the peripartum period (p p < 0.001). The ACTH and cortisol levels measured in mares belonged to Group A showed a significant positive correlation with the values of leptin, LDLs, triglycerides and VLDLs, whereas they were negatively correlated with the serum UCP1 and NEFAs values. Together, the findings gathered in this study highlight a dynamic change of serum leptin, UCP1 and lipid parameters in peripartum mares and suggest an interaction of the HPA axis with lipid metabolism and mobilization in mares during the peripartum period in order to deal with metabolic and energy demand and maintain energy homeostasis
Anti-Müllerian hormone, antral follicle count, and progesterone evaluation in Italian Mediterranean buffalo heifers
No full textAnti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been used as a molecular marker of the ovarian follicular pool and follicular responsiveness to superovulation treatments in cattle and other species. Early studies in buffalo cows indicated that circulating AMH levels were relatively low, which appeared to be correlated with ovarian follicular reserve. This study aimed to evaluate AMH in buf-falo heifers to investigate its potential correlation with the phase of the oestrous cycle and follicle count (FC). For this study, forty-two cycling Mediterranean buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers, aged 18-20 months, were selected in a Sicilian farm. Using rectalpalpation and ultrasound exam of the genital tract, recording uterine tone and ovarian findings (follicles and corpus luteum),the heifers were divided into two main groups: those in the luteal phase (n = 32) and those in the follicular phase (n = 10). Eachovary was carefully examined and the total number of follicles ≥ 3 mm in diameter was duly recorded for each animal. Bloodsamples were taken from the caudal vein for progesterone and AMH assay. The unpaired Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used toevaluate longitudinal changes in hormone levels from the follicular to the luteal phase. The Pearson correlation coefficient as-sessed the possible correlation between AMH and progesterone and between AMH and FC. The results indicated no significant difference in AMH levels between the follicular and luteal phases, and no correlation between AMH and P4. However, a significant correlation was observed between FC and AMH. AMH in buffalo heifers was not found to be correlated with the phase ofthe oestrous cycle, but rather with FC. The parallelism with bovine species suggests that AMH may be a useful indicator for selecting buffalo heifers with good fertility and long productive life, which could potentially serve as candidates for reproductive biotechnology
Platelet Aggregation Percentage Increased in Healthy Broodmares During the Peripartum
No full textThe aim of our study was to investigate whether the peripartum has any influence on platelet aggregation in the mare to characterize the role of platelets in mare's normal pregnancy. Ten healthy pregnant Italian Saddle broodmares were monitored during the peripartum (from 2weeks before until 2 week after foaling). Blood samples were collected at 7-day intervals, except the first postfoaling sample collected within 24 ± 12hours from parturition. A pool of 26 blood samples from nonpregnant, nonlactating mares was used as control. The obtained samples were tested for platelet aggregation using adenosine diphosphate as agonist. Significant differences (. P = .0002) were found between pregnant and control mares. The percentage of platelet aggregation increased significantly in pregnant mares starting 2weeks before parturition. Our results support the hypothesis that a physiologically adaptive mechanism occurs in healthy periparturient broodmares to prevent excessive blood loss from damaged vessels at the time of delivery
Nutritional Supplements Containing Cardus mariano, Eucalyptus globulus, Gentiana lutea, Urtica urens, and Mallotus philippinensis Extracts Are Effective in Reducing Egg Shedding in Dairy Jennies (Equus asinus) Naturally Infected by Cyathostomins
Full text linkThe increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance together with the restrictions in the use of drugs in food producing animals have enforced the search for sustainable alternative approaches for parasite control. The current study aimed to investigate the safety and the efficacy of a commercially available phytotherapic formulation against gastrointestinal strongyles in donkeys. Twenty-two Ragusana jennies (2.6 ± 0.5 years old) were assigned to two equal groups. One group was treated with two doses of a phytotherapic supplement Paraxitebio® containing Cardus mariano, Eucalyptus globulus, Gentiana lutea, Urtica urens, and Mallotus philippinensis, 14 days apart (Group A). One group was used as negative control (Group B). Individual fecal samples were collected at the beginning of the study (T−1 ), and after 7, 14, and 28 days (T7 , T14 , T28 ). Blood samples were collected on T−1 and T28 in order to assess changes in donkeys’ hematological profile. After the initial rise in EPG values observed on T7, Group A showed a significant EPG decrease with lower eggs per gram (EPG) count compared to Group B on T28 and an overall fecal egg count reduction of 56.9% on the same time-point. Hematological parameters were within the normal physiological ranges for enrolled donkeys. However, significant differences in the values of RBCs, Hb, MCHC, MCV, WBCs, eosinophils, and basophils were recorded between groups after phytotherapic treatments, with Group A showing a general improvement in the hemogram picture. The phytotherapic supplement used in the current study was helpful in controlling intestinal parasites allowing a significant reduction in the fecal egg count 28 days after treatment. Further studies are needed to better explore the specific mode of action of the plant-derived formulation herein tested as well as to encourage their use as tool for the control of equine strongylosis under multimodal integrated approach in dairy donkey farms
In vitro assessment effect of Undaria pinnatifida extracts on erythrocytes cytotoxicity and blood coagulation parameters of Equus caballus
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Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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