Hematological and biochemical reference values for the endangered kiso horse

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Science
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• The Kiso horse is an endangered breed native to Japan.
• Establishing breed-specific reference ranges is vital for accurate health assessment and conservation efforts.
• Existing veterinary reference values may not accurately reflect the unique physiology of the Kiso horse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the normal hematological and biochemical reference ranges for adult Kiso horses.
• To compare these ranges with established veterinary textbook values.
• To provide essential diagnostic indices for the health management of this endangered breed.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 111 adult Kiso horses, representing over 74% of the breed population.
• 23 hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed to calculate means and standard deviations (SD).
• Results were compared against reference values from a leading Japanese veterinary textbook.

Main Results:

• Kiso horses exhibit significantly lower erythrocyte counts, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels compared to general references.
• Serum biochemistry revealed lower levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).
• The study identified specific diagnostic indices for Kiso horses.

Conclusions:

• The Kiso horse possesses distinct hematological and biochemical characteristics.
• These breed-specific reference ranges are crucial for accurate veterinary diagnosis and health monitoring.
• Further research is needed to determine if these differences are genetic or environmental.