title: Reference intervals for selected hematological and biochemical variables in Hucul horses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hucul horses are the unique, genetically distinct breed of Carpathian Mountains. Even though they are recognized as primitive breed, many morphological differences between them and other primitive horses have been reported. Neither hematological nor blood biochemical studies in this breed have been conducted so far.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to establish the reference intervals for basic hematological and selected biochemical variables and to compare them with other breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 168 Hucul horses and the analyses were performed using routine methods. Mainly nonparametric method was used to establish reference intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following reference intervals have been established (rounded to two significant digits): RBC: 7.0-13×1012/l; HGB: 106.1-195.8 g/l; HCT: 0.3-0.6 l/l; MCV: 35-50 fl; MCH 11.9-17.1 pg; MCHC: 31.9-34.8 g/dl; WBC: 7.5-22×109/l, bands: 0-0.5×109/l; segmented neutrophils: 3.3-10×109/l; eosinophils: 0-1.1×109/l; basophils: 0-0.3×109/l; lymphocytes: 1.9-12×109/l; monocytes: 0-0.2×109/l; PLT 95-350×109/l; MPV 5.2-7.0; ALP: 98-425 U/l; AST: 220-470 U/l; GGT: 9.1-31 U/l; total bilirubin: 6.5-29 μmol/l; CPK: 120-640 U/l; triglycerides: 0.1-0.9 mmol/l; urea: 3.8-11 mmol/l; creatinine: 44 -140 μmol/l; serum amyloid A: 130-5200 μg/l.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hematological and biochemical variables in Hucul horses were closer to hot-blooded then to cold-blooded and primitive horses or wild equidae. The reference intervals presented in this study pose clinically useful tool for evaluation of blood check-up in Hucul horses.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cywińska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czopowicz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Witkowski
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Górecka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degórski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guzera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szczubełek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turło
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schollenberger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winnicka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values