The aim of the study was to evaluate quick and easy semiquantitative tests for the detection of serum immunoglobulins that are commonly used for to trace the foals with the failure of passive immunity transfer. We compared the four most employed methods -zinc sulphate turbidity tests using photometric or visual reading, glutaraldehyde test and refractometric determination of total protein concentration in serum. Radial immunodiffusion test was used as a reference method. Thirty-eight blood serum samples from foals were used for quantitative estimation of immunoglobulins. The tested methods were correlated with reference method and their availability for tracing of cases of unsuccessful passive transfer immunogobulins was evaluated.The results obtained so far have not allowed us to recommend without reservation any of the compared methods as a reliable test for the determination of blood serum Ig concentrations in newborn foals. On the other hand, the practical usefulness of two of the tested methods (visual reading of turbidity, refractometry) for rapid field identification of hypogammaglobulinaemic foals was confirmed. Of the two, we prefer the refractometric method (sensitivity: 94.11; specificity: 83.30 and predictive value: 88) for common use because it is quicker and easier than other methods. This study pointed out the critical points of the mentioned problem, which have to be studied further.

Polymorphic markers identified in the horse genes encoding the interleukin 12 p40 subunit, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were identified and tested, along with additional markers, for associations with two important horse infections: Rhodococcus equi and Lawsonia intracellularis. Eight immune response-related and 14 microsatellite loci covering 12 out of 31 equine autosomes were used for the association analysis. Markers located on horse Chromosomes Eca10 and 15 were significantly associated with the presence of high numbers of R. equi in transtracheal aspirates. Significant associations of markers located on Eca9, 15, and 21 with fecal shedding of Lawsonia intracellularis were found. Marginal associations with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and other genes suggested that variations in immune response-related genes could underlie the phenotypic variation observed.

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Postnatal changes in concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG, IgM and IgA isotypes from birth until the age of five months were monitored by the ELISA method. The experiment was performed in a group of 52 thoroughbred foals and their mothers. Among the investigated animals, failure of colostral immunity transfer was recorded in only four foals (7.7 percent). The concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG and IgA isotypes primarily decreased during the first weeks of life and then gradually increased until the end of the investigated period. The concentrations of immunoglobulin IgG isotype reached the values of adult animals by the end of the investigated period. However, immunoglobulin IgA isotype did not reach those values during the entire investigated period. The concentrations of immunoglobulin IgM isotype were quite rapidly increasing from the birth on. The beginning of active antibody formation was inversely proportional to the level of colostral immunoglobulins.

The major goal of this study was to estimate the aerobic and anaerobic contribution to energy expenditure in the running warmblood horse under field conditions. The oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) in 12 saddle horses was determined at rest, walk, trot, and canter and in 6 horses at gallop. In the 10 min immediately following exercise the relative oxygen debt (RD-VO 2 ) was measured. The horses were exercised by riders in the various gaits at speeds representing 15, 30, 50 and 70% of the their individual maximum speed (V max ). The distances covered were 3000 m in each walk, trot and canter and 1500 m in gallop. VO 2 and RD-VO 2 m and energy expenditure (J.kg.min -1 ) using the oxygen caloric equivalent of the measured respiratory quotient (RQ) were studied for possible relations to the speed. The proportion of anaerobic energy expenditure (%E anaer.) to the total energy production was also investigated. A linear relation between speed and aerobic energy expenditure (E) and a quadratic relation between speed and anaerobic energy expenditure (RD-E) and total energy expenditure (TE) was found. The %E anaer. was 1.21 ± 0.40 at a speed of 15% V max , 3.40 ± 0.38 at 30% V max , 18.58 ± 2.05 at 50% V max , and 29.47 ± 1.17 at 70% V max .Post-exercise oxygen uptake appears a suitable measure for the major part of the oxygen debt (relative oxygen debt) and could be considered as an indicator of anaerobically released energy. For this reason it may also be an indicator of the anaerobic capacity of the horse at a standard or maximal exercise. Horse, exercise, oxygen uptake, oxygen debt, energy consumption, anaerobic energyIn recent years, a considerable amount of research has been performed in an attempt to describe the physiological response of the horse to exercise and training. Mostly the changes in cardiorespiratory functions during different intensities of exercise have been studied extensively and reported for various breeds of horses. It has been suggested that heart rate and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), measured at sub-maximal exercise, are useful in assessing cardiovascular fitness in the horse. Calculated parameters such as the speed at a heart rate of 200 beats.min -1 (V-200) and oxygen consumption at a heart rate of 200 beats.min -1 (VO 2 -200) are considered as highly useful (Persson 1983;Persson et al. 1983;Rose et al. 1990). Other suitable indices of fitness have included the velocity (V) and heart rate (HR) at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol.l -1 i.e.

A five-month-old African jenny was presented with a history of exercise intolerance and syncopal episodes. Severe bradycardic arrhythmia due to a high-grade second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block with progression to complete AV block was diagnosed. The jenny underwent a transvenous single-chamber pacemaker implantation. The implantation procedure was performed in a lateral recumbency and the ventricular lead was inserted through the jugular vein. Positioning of the lead was guided by echocardiography. The pacemaker was programmed to VVI mode with a minimal ventricular rate of 40 pulses per minute, a pulse amplitude of 2.4 V, a pulse width of 0.5 ms and sensing amplitude of 2.5 mV. Short-term complications associated with the procedure included lead dislodgement and pacemaker pocket infection. The long-term outcome was satisfactory; the jenny showed improvement in heart function and quality of life after pacemaker implantation. The pulse generator replacement was performed twice (at nine-year intervals) and the intervention was always associated with a local inflammatory reaction around the pacing device. Cardiac examination 18 years after pacemaker implantation revealed no morphological changes in the heart; the electrode lead was still in the correct position and successful pacing and sensing of the ventricle were obtained. Regular follow-up checks are important to evaluate pacemaker function.

Evaluation of selected components of seminal plasma as markers of ejaculate quality may be of interest when assessing the quality of semen. The aim of the study was to evaluate some biochemical parameters of seminal plasma in donkeys and compare them with the volume, concentration and motility of the ejaculate. A total of 11 ejaculates were collected from five donkey stallions (between one and three from each animal). Each ejaculate was assessed for volume, concentration and motility, and the seminal plasma biochemically examined after centrifugation. Total protein, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine-amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate-amino-transferase, creatine kinase, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH), sodium, potassium (K+), calcium, phosphate, chloride, copper (Cu), cholesterol, vitamin E (Vit E), magnesium (Mg2+), seminal plasma selenium (Se SP) and seminal plasma zinc (Zn SP) were identified. Biochemical analysis of the seminal plasma was then statistically evaluated using the Spearman coefficient of correlation. A significant positive correlation between ALP, ALT, LDH, Cu, Se SP and Zn SP and sperm concentration was found. Also there was a significant positive correlation between Vit E and sperm motility. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between urea, K+, Mg2+ and the ejaculate volume. This is the first report about selected biochemical components of donkey's seminal plasma that we know of. However, further research using a larger number of individuals is necessary to confirm that these components of seminal plasma are useful as markers of ejaculate quality in donkey stallions.

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