Transport induced inflammatory responses in horses

Area of Science:

• Equine Medicine
• Animal Physiology
• Veterinary Science

Background:

• Road transport induces physiological, immunological, and metabolic changes in horses.
• These changes increase susceptibility to disorders like pneumonia, diarrhea, colics, laminitis, injuries, and rhabdomyolysis.
• Understanding transport-related stress is crucial for equine welfare and health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between short and long-distance road transport and inflammatory states in young and older female horses.
• To assess changes in acute phase proteins, oxidative stress, and muscle injury markers post-transport.
• To evaluate the impact of transport distance and age on physiological stress responses in horses.

Main Methods:

• Study involved 24 cold-blooded female horses (fillies and mares) divided into four groups based on age and transport distance (50 km vs. 550 km).
• Blood samples were collected before transport (T0), immediately after (T1), and at slaughter (T2).
• Plasma and serum were analyzed for fibrinogen, malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) levels.

Main Results:

• Fibrinogen levels significantly increased in all groups, with the most pronounced rise in fillies after long-distance transport.
• Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, an indicator of oxidative stress, increased post-transport and peaked at slaughter.
• Creatine kinase (CK) activity was higher after short transport in younger horses, while aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was initially higher in older horses.

Conclusions:

• Intensified acute phase, oxidative stress, and muscle injury markers indicate a significant inflammatory response to road transport in horses.
• Long-distance transport poses a greater challenge, particularly for young horses (fillies).
• These findings underscore the physiological impact of transport and suggest a need for strategies to mitigate stress in equine practice.