Stress responses of stallions during transport period: The variations of complete blood count and serum biochemistry

In the present study the objective was to determine the effect of one transport journey on some stress indicators in horses. 11 adult stallion (all stallion) age 3-12 years including 7 Thoroughbred, 2 Arabian, 1 Dutch Warmblood, and 1 Friesian were enrolled. White blood cell counts and other relevant parameters were determined by an automated cell counter before and after transportation. Serum activities of relevant biomarkers were determined by use of an autoanalyzer. Serum cortisole level was detected by a microplate immunoassay technique. Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and Clor (Cl) and Calsium (Ca) levels were also measured by use of autoanalyser. Mean Platelet (PLT), and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) White Blood Cell (WBC) counts did not exhibit a variation for healthy horses during the study whereas RBC, Hb and Hct levels exhibited significant increases after transportation (P<0.05). Mean daily glucose concentration showed an increase after transportation (P< 0.05). Mean total protein, albumine, AST and CK levels presented increases on day 2, after transportation (P< 0.05). Mean blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total bilirubine, ALT, ALP, LDH and GGT did not show significant changes throughout the study. Mean Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) and Clor (Cl) levels showed alterations after transportation (P< 0.05), whereas Calsium (Ca) levels showed significant decreases after transportation (P< 0.05).