Serum Protein Fraction in Mature Horses and Relationship With Metabolic and Hematological Parameters

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the effect of age on serum protein fractions and their relationship with metabolic and hematological profiles in mature horses. Twenty-five mature Italian Saddle horses (mean age 13.6 ± 4.8 years) fed the same diet (grass hay and concentrate) were stratified according to age as first maturity, M1 (≤10 years old); second maturity, M2 (>10 and 15 years), to be monitored every 28 days for a continuous period of 140 days. Horses in group O had higher plasma protein and thiol concentrations and white blood cell and neutrophil counts than the other two groups. Serum α 2 -globulin concentrations were positively correlated with total plasma cholesterol ( r  = 0.514; P r  = 0.430; P r  = 0.339; P r  = 0.321; P r  = 0.444; P r  = 0.426; P r  = 0.344; P r  = −0.522; P r  = −0.400; P 2 -globulins fraction seems a quick but reliable marker of an inflammatory situation that, successively, should be better investigated with specific metabolites or enzymes.