The interest of this study was to identify 2 haemoglobin types in adult miniature Caspian horses and to dispose of normal serum iron, copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in this horse breed.

S. Nazifi
S. Rategh

Abstract

The relationship between haemoglobin types of adult Caspian miniature horses and the blood concentrations of haemoglobin, copper, ceruloplasmin and iron was studied. Blood samples of 50 clinically healthy Caspian miniature horses with various ages (1.5-3, 3-5 and > 5 years) were taken from the jugular vein. By electrophoresis, two haemoglobin types were evidenced: the predominant type HbA and HbB, which respectively represented 66.58% and 33.42% of the total haemoglobin concentrations. Proportions of haemoglobin types, haemoglobin concentrations, and serum iron, copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations were independent of age or sex, and no significant correlation among these biochemical markers of iron metabolism could be obtained. The interest of this study was to identify 2 haemoglobin types in adult miniature Caspian horses and to dispose of normal serum iron, copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in this horse breed. The identification of regulatory mechanisms of iron metabolism will require further investigations.