The study was basically carried out to establish the appropriate condition for applying the Westergren method for erythrocyte sedimentation rate(W-ESR) in Throughbred racehorses at recess. To do this, we examined the correlationship among some factors including the kind of anticoagulants, optimal ambient temperature and reading time for W-ESR in healthy racehorses.
The difference between the blood samples treated with only 3.8% solution of sodium citrate(SC) and both EDTA and SC as a coagulant, there was not recognized any significant difference(p<0.05) in the levels of W-ESR irrespective of the ambient temperature of 20℃ or 30℃ . The best optimal ambient temperature for W-ESR in horses was proved at 30℃ re,ulting from the tendency of the most reduced dispersion in mean values analyaed from repeady 4 times to the same blood samles compared with those of 10℃ and 20℃.
The optimal reading time was determined as 60 minutes(Y=237.2∼4.1X, r²=0.998) and 70 minutes(Y=247.8∼4.2X, r²=0.999) under the same temperature of 30℃; the latter showed the better result on the basis of the correlation of packed cell volume(PCV) and ESR values.
About 13 healthy racehorses, we compared the real values of W-ESR respectively obtained at 60 minutes and 70 minutes at 30℃ with the anticipated values of PCV by means of the analysis of linear regression equitation. As the result of this, the strong correlation between both of them was confirmed.
For practical use of W-ESR in Thoroughbred racehorese, we can recommend the condition of 60 or 70 minutes for the optimal reading time as well as 30℃ for the best ambient temperature.
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