Clinico-Pathological Studies on Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine body morphometrics and some clinico--pathological markers for equine metabolic syndrome. For estimating markers of overweight or obesity of brood mares used for riding, 17 mares of different body conditions were subjected to blood sampling and ultrasound examination to measure rump fat thickness and monitor ovulation for 8 consecutive weeks. Also length (L), heart girth (G) and withers height (H) were measured to estimate body weight (BW), body fat %, body fat mass (BFM) and body mass index (BMI). Mares were classified into three groups according to body condition score (BCS) and rump fat (RF). Overweight mares (O) were having BCS > 7 and RF thickness >7mm, moderate body condition (M) mares were having BCS and RF from >3 to ≤7, and emaciated mares (E) were having BCS and RF ≤3mm. Glucose, triglycerides, nitric oxide, insulin, insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-1), leptin, ovarian and thyroid hormones were measured.