Original Research Article

Studies on haematological parameters in horses located in Port Harcourt Nigeria

*Ememe M. U., Tchokote E. Y. and Akpuoye O. C.

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: maryeneme@yahoo.com
Tel. +2348034947650

Accepted May 21, 2015

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the baseline data of haematological parameters of horses in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 72 apparently healthy horses comprising 22 females and 50 males. The horses sampled were both local and exotic breeds aged between 5 months and 13 years. Mean haematological parameters including packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, total and differential leucocyte counts were determined by standard methods. Values recorded were comparable to normal values of horses in other parts of world. There were no significant difference between the mean haematological values recorded in different breeds, sex and age. In conclusion, the generated data may serve as reference values for horses in Nigeria in order to evaluate their health conditions.

Keywords: Apparently healthy, Haematological parameters, Horses, Reference values