Hematological and biochemical changes in horses with colic in Nairobi county, Kenya.
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: This was a prospective study, which involved following up cases of colic and from which blood samples for \nhaematology and serum for biochemical analysis were collected. The haematological parameters measured were total \nerythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Haematocrit (hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), \nmean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentartion (MCHC), red blood cell \ndistribution width (RDW), platelet count, Total leucocyte count (TLC) and leucocyte differential count. The \nbiochemical parameters measured were alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total proteins, \nserum albumin, serum globulin, blood glucose and serum lactate. The data obtained from the reported cases of colic \nwas then imported into StatPlus pro 5.9.8 statistical package and means±SD were calculated and student t-test was \nthen used to compare the means from horses that had impaction colic with those that had spasmodic colic as well as \nthe means of those horses that recovered with those of the horses that died. The level of significance was at P<0.05. \nMean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) was significantly higher (P=0.03) in horses with spasmodic colic (16.8±1.3 \npg) than in those with impaction colic (15.6±1.2 pg). The mean leucocyte count (109 \n/L) was significantly higher \n(p=0.02) in horses with impaction colic (12.9±5.9) than in those with spasmodic colic (9.0±1.5). Similarly, mean \nneutrophil count (109 \n/L) was significantly higher (P=0.02) in horses with impaction colic (9.1±5.6) than in those with \nspasmodic colic (5.4±1.7). The mean values of blood glucose were significantly higher (P=0.02) in horses with \nimpaction colic (5.7±2.0 mmol/l) than in those with spasmodic colic (3.7±1.4 mmol/l). The blood biochemical \nparameters that were significantly lower in horses that died than those that survived were total protein (P=0.002), \nalbumin (P<0.01) and globulin (P=0.04). Apart from Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and slight leucocyte and \nneutrophil changes, there were no major significant haematological changes in horses with colic. Total blood proteins \nincluding albumin and globulin levels could serve as possible guides to prognosis of colic in horses. The general \nprognosis of spasmodic colic in horses was good, but fair to poor for impaction.
Authors: A. N. Gitari, J. Nguhiu-Mwangi, E. M. Mogoa, V. J. Varma, Willy Mwangi, Abbulu Konde, Furaha Rashid
Language: English
Subfield: Equine
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2767589356