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Hemostatic indices in healthy foals from birth to one month of age
M H Barton1, D D Morris, N Crowe
1Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA.
Insights
Neonatal foals exhibit distinct hemostatic profiles compared to adult horses, with most coagulation factors normalizing by one month of age. These findings are crucial for understanding foal health and development.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Hematology
- Equine Science
Background:
- Hemostasis, the process of stopping bleeding, is critical for survival.
- Understanding the developmental changes in hemostatic indices in foals is essential for neonatal care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the hemostatic profile of healthy light breed foals from birth to one month of age.
- To compare these indices with those of healthy adult horses.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 45 foals at four distinct ages (<24 hours, 4-7 days, 10-14 days, 25-30 days) and 20 adult horses.
- Assessed various hemostatic parameters including platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and concentrations/activities of protein C, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha-2 antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, protein C antigen, fibrinogen, and fibrin degradation products.
Main Results:
- Neonatal foals (<24 hours) showed significantly longer prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times compared to older foals.
- Lower plasma concentrations of antithrombin III, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, protein C antigen, and fibrinogen were observed at birth.
- Higher concentrations of protein C and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activities and fibrin degradation products were noted in newborns.
Conclusions:
- Hemostatic indices in neonatal foals differ significantly from those in older foals and adult horses.
- By one month of age, most hemostatic indices in foals normalize to adult levels, except for antithrombin III and tissue plasminogen activator activities.
Abstract:
Hemostatic indices were determined in 45 healthy light breed foals, from birth to 1 month of age, and in 20 healthy adult (> 2 years of age) light breed horses. Blood samples were obtained from each foal at 4 ages: 1) < 24 hours, 2) 4-7 days, 3) 10-14 days, and 4) 25-30 days. The following hemostatic indices were determined: platelet count; prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times; activity concentrations of protein C, antithrombin III, plasminogen, alpha-2 antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; plasma protein C antigen and fibrinogen concentrations; and serum fibrin degradation products concentration. Prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times were significantly longer at birth than in older foals. The plasma concentrations of the following were significantly lower at birth than in older foals: antithrombin III, plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator activities, protein C antigen, and fibrinogen. Concentrations of the following were significantly higher at birth than in older foals: protein C and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activities and fibrin degradation products. These results indicate that hemostatic indices of neonatal foals differ significantly from those of older foals and adults. With the exceptions of antithrombin III and tissue plasminogen activator activities, all hemostatic indices measured in foals at 1 month of age were equivalent to adult values.