Blood gas analysis, hematology, biochemistry and Apgar score during the first 24 hours of life of Mangalarga Marchador foals.
Authors: Vieira G S, Peneiras A B V, Soares T S C, Alonso M A, Curcio B R, Fernandes C B, Oliveira R A
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Neonatal Blood Parameters in Mangalarga Marchador Foals Understanding the physiological transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life requires robust reference values for healthy neonatal foals, yet such data remain scarce for many breeds. Researchers sampled blood from 30 healthy Mangalarga Marchador foals at birth and at 15 minutes, 2, 12, and 24 hours post-partum, measuring blood gases, haematology, and biochemistry alongside Apgar scores recorded at birth, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes. Oxygenation status improved markedly across the first day—pH, arterial oxygen partial pressure, saturation and oxygen content were all depressed at birth but rose progressively, whilst carbon dioxide and lactate concentrations showed the inverse pattern, declining from peak values at delivery. Hematocrit, electrolytes (sodium, potassium), ionised calcium, urea and creatinine were initially elevated before normalising within 24 hours, whereas glucose, total protein and globulins were low at birth and increased over time, with albumin remaining stable throughout. For equine practitioners, these breed-specific reference ranges provide a practical benchmark for distinguishing healthy physiological responses from pathological signs in neonatal assessment, enabling earlier recognition and intervention in compromised foals during the critical first 24 hours of life.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Reference values established in this study enable veterinarians to distinguish normal physiological adaptation from pathological compromise in newborn Mangalarga Marchador foals during the critical first 24 hours
- •Progressive improvement in oxygenation parameters (pH, pO2, O2 saturation) and declining lactate within 24 hours indicates successful transition to extrauterine life; failure to improve should trigger investigation for compromise
- •Elevated electrolytes and hematocrit at birth are normal and expected; serial monitoring rather than single values is essential for identifying clinically significant derangements
Key Findings
- •pH, arterial oxygen partial pressure, and oxygen saturation were significantly lower at birth (T0) and progressively increased over 24 hours postpartum
- •Arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure, total arterial carbon dioxide, and lactate concentrations were highest at birth and decreased over time
- •Hematological parameters (sodium, potassium, ionized calcium, urea, creatinine, hematocrit) were initially elevated but normalized within 24 hours
- •Glucose, total plasma proteins, and globulins increased from birth to 24 hours, while plasma albumin remained stable