IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA ASSOCIATING WITH PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA (POST-STRANGLES COMPLICATION) DISEASE OF HORSES

Document Type : Research article

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Dept. of Animal Medicine, Fac. Vet. Med., Assiut Univ.

Abstract

During the period of investigation (Marsh, 1998 - Jan., 1999), 11 diseased horses were clinically diagnosed as purpura hemorrhagica disease. These cases were previously infected by strangles. They were parasitic free. Erythrogram including measurement of the red cell distribution width (RDW), thrombocytes counts and serum-iron levels in these cases were monitored. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the total erythrocytic
counts with highly significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the values of hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were the characteristic hematological findings of the diseased horses. Mean corpuscular volume
and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were also significantly decreased (P > 0.05). In addition to the latter findings, there was also a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the RDW parameter suggesting the occurrence of microcytic-hypochromic anemia due possibly to iron deficiency in the diseased cases. Such suggestion was confirmed by the highly significant (P<0.01) decreased in the level of serum-iron of the diseased horses in comparison with the control group. The probable causes of iron deficiency anemia associating with purpura hemorrhagica disease in horses were discussed. Thrombocytic counts were insignificantly (P>0.05) decreased (non thrombocytopenia).

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