Effects of Transit Stress on White Blood Cells Count in the Peripheral Blood in Thoroughbred Race Horses

Abstract

In order to investigate whether transport does have influence on white blood cells count in the peripheral blood in racehorses, clinically healthy 337 thoroughbred racehorses were examined hematologically prior to and immediately after transportation.
There was a tendency to increase in the number of leukocyte after transportation. The increase was mainly due to neutrophilia. It would appear that leukocytosis might have originated from the stress associated with transportation. The causal factor of leukocytosis remains to be studied.