Blood analysis in newborn donkeys : hematology, biochemistry and blood gases analysis

The knowledge of reference ranges for hematological, biochemical and blood gas parameters in the different species and the influence of breed and age on them is a fundamental tool for the clinician. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate the age-related changes of hematological and biochemical parameters in Martina Franca donkey foals during the first 3 weeks of life and of blood gases during the first 24 hours of age. Fifteen healthy donkey foals were enrolled; blood samples were collected from each foal at 10 minutes after birth, 1 hour after the first and second suckle, 12 and 24 hours after birth, daily from day 2 to day 7, and at day 10, 14 and 21 of life. Erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets counts were assessed; also metabolic (ALT, AST, γGT, CPK, LDH, ALP, glucose, BUN, creatinine, total proteins, albumins, cholesterol, total bilirubin) and electrolytic parameters (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl) were evaluated. Finally blood gases and metabolic parameters (pH, pCO2, pO2, sO2, TCO2, HCO3, lactate, BE) on venous blood were assessed with a portable analyzer. A statistical analysis to evaluate the influence of age and sex was performed. Several differences were found between sampling times, demonstrating that age influences these parameters. Moreover differences were found compared to data reported in literature for donkey foals of another species, horse foals and adult donkeys. Although a great inter-individual variation for some parameters exists, this study demonstrated that interval references should be addressed not only to different species, but also to specific breeds and to the neonatal period.