Adattamenti endocrini, ematologici e funzionali in cavalli da trekking trasportati in van singolo o doppio

Cortisol, haematological variables and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT) of horses were evaluated before and after two-day trekking events, by taking into account the different type of transport in single (Group I) or double van (Group II). Group I showed significant increases of WBC (P<0.05), RBC (P<0.01) and Hb (P<0.01) only after the 2nd day of trekking, of Plt and Pct (P<0.05) after the 1st day of trekking, and of PCV (P<0.05) both after the 1st and the 2nd day of trekking. On the contrary, Group II showed a decrease of cortisol levels, significant (P<0.05) only after the 1st day of trekking, and an increase of RBC (P<0.01) after the 2nd day of trekking. HR and RR values were higher both after the 1st and the 2nd day of trekking (Group I: P<0.001; Group II: P<0.01), while RT values were higher only after the 2nd day of trekking (Group I: P<0.001; Group II: P<0.01).Results showed that exercise and preliminary transport in single or double van induced significant changes on endocrine, haematological and functional homeostasis of horses.