Pazzola M, Pira E, Sedda G, Vacca G M, Cocco R, Sechi S, Bonelli P, Nicolussi P
J Anim Sci. 2015 Apr;93(4):1573-80. doi: 10.2527/jas.2014-8341.
Several concerns have been raised over the health of animals used in equestrian games that have their origins in historical or religious events and are currently held in many countries. This study investigated physiological stress response and health status of horses participating in the Sartiglia, a historical horse tournament held in the city of Oristano, Italy, which is principally based on the attempts of masked horsemen at a gallop to run a sword through a hole in a suspended silver star. Blood samples were collected from 21 horses the day before the tournament (D0), during the tournament (D1), and the day after the tournament (D2). Samples were analyzed for complete blood count and biochemical, hormonal, and oxidative stress assays. Data were analyzed using the mixed effect model with sampling session as one of the fixed effects. On the whole, blood parameters evidenced an optimal health status of horses at D0. Significant dehydration and increase of circulating glucose, enzymes, cortisol, and β-endorphin were registered at D1 (P < 0.001) with a complete recovery of physiological values just at D2. The reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), from which the prooxidant activity can be evaluated, showed an increase from D0 to D1 and D2. Concentration of biological antioxidant potential, which measured the antioxidant capacity, was characterized by the maximum level registered during the tournament and counteracted the simultaneous increase of d-ROM. It can be hypothesized that the tournament played an important role in causing high levels of oxidant markers not only because of the physical exercise represented by the gallop but also because the emotional stressors. In conclusion, the tournament caused significant changes of most parameters, which rapidly recovered to baseline values within the day after. These data will certainly be useful for a future implementation of tests in equine medicine and for the improvements of knowledge of changes of blood parameters and health of horses in similar tournaments.
人们对起源于历史或宗教事件、目前在许多国家举办的马术比赛中所用动物的健康状况提出了若干担忧。本研究调查了参加意大利奥里斯塔诺市举办的历史悠久的马术比赛“萨蒂利亚”的马匹的生理应激反应和健康状况，该比赛主要是蒙面骑手骑着马疾驰，试图用剑穿过悬挂的银星上的一个洞。在比赛前一天（D0）、比赛期间（D1）和比赛后一天（D2）从21匹马采集血样。对样本进行全血细胞计数以及生化、激素和氧化应激检测分析。使用混合效应模型分析数据，将采样时段作为固定效应之一。总体而言，血液参数表明马匹在D0时健康状况最佳。在D1时出现明显脱水，循环葡萄糖、酶、皮质醇和β-内啡肽增加（P < 0.001），而在D2时生理值完全恢复。可据此评估促氧化活性的活性氧代谢产物（d-ROM）从D0到D1和D2呈增加趋势。衡量抗氧化能力的生物抗氧化潜力浓度在比赛期间达到最高水平，并抵消了同时增加的d-ROM。可以推测，该比赛在导致高水平氧化标志物方面发挥了重要作用，这不仅是因为疾驰所代表的体育锻炼，还因为情绪应激源。总之，该比赛导致大多数参数发生显著变化，但在赛后一天内迅速恢复到基线值。这些数据对于未来在马医学中开展检测以及增进对类似比赛中马匹血液参数变化和健康状况的了解肯定会有帮助。
