Hemogram plan in the horse's clinical evaluation
The interpretation of the blood count is essential to help the equine clinician in the diagnosis, prognosis, patient management, and control of equine diseases. Hematologic alterations often reflect the condition of the individual or an overall response to a pathological situation.
Results of hematology tests provide information on the function of the bone marrow and clues of yields or even diagnosis as to the presence of underlying disease. Hematology tests should always be interpreted with respect to what is known about the patient (signalment, history, clinical signs, results of other diagnostic testing) and should not be interpreted in isolation.
Many factors other than disease influence the results of hematology tests. Indeed, the blood count must be interpreted taking into account the different patient data such as age, breed, gender, venipuncture method, season, reproductive status, feeding, training, exercise typology, administration of sedatives and tranquilizers, circadian biological rhythms, altitude, etc. and the information provided by the clinical examination
The most common abnormalities in the erythrogram are mainly anemia and polycythemia. The frequent causes of anemia in horses are acute and chronic blood loss, hemolytic anemia, and anemia caused by chronic disease.
Evaluation of leukogram, including a total white cell count, a differential cell count, absolute numbers of specific leukocytes can help identify abnormalities that may suggest specific diseases such as a viral or bacterial infection, inflammatory disorders or even a neoplastic process.
The platelet count is most often used to monitor or diagnose conditions that cause too much bleeding related with thrombocytopenia; it can be due to multiple mechanisms such as reduction of thrombopoiesis (myeloptisis, myelofibrosis, myeloproliferative disease, and idiopathic medullary aplasias or due to the effect of mielosuppresive drugs), increased peripheral destruction of platelets (immune mediated thrombocytopenia), consumption (dissemined intravascular coagulation) sequestration of the spleen and loss of platelets by idiopathic origin.
In conclusion, the authors said that whatever the cause, it is likely that the correct interpretation of equine hematology values is essential and dependent upon whether the individual animal is considered to be a hot-blooded or cold-blooded breed. Erythrogram, leukogram and the PLTs’ count have some physiological significance in maintaining homeostasis in animals.
Katiuska Satué, et al. “Contribution of Hemogram Plan in the Horse's Clinical Evaluation.” J Equine Vet Sci. 2023 Mar 22; 126:104292. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104292.
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