Reference Values of Hematological, Biochemical and Endocrinological Parameters in the Blood of Piglets Aged 1 and 21 Days

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this paper is to determine the reference ranges for hematological, biochemical and endocrinological parameters in the blood of the commercial F1 Landrace x Yorkshire and Yorkshire x Landrace piglets aged 1 and 21 days. A total of 72 animals were enrolled in this study. The following reference ranges were determined for the blood parameters considered (day 1 vs. day 21): WBC 10.0-12.4 vs. 11.5-13.7 × 109/L; RBC 3.72-4.06 vs. 5.25-5.73 × 1012/L; HGB 71.4-79.0 vs. 100-110 g/L; HCT 24.4-26.5 vs. 35.7-39.1 %; MCV 64.4-66.0 vs. 72.7-74.8 fL; MCH 20.9-21.7 vs. 24.7-25.6 pg; MCHC 321-329 vs. 367-378 g/L; AST 78.5-98.9 vs. 51.8-66 U/L; ALT 72.5-84.5 vs. 65.9-76.5 U/L; CHOL 2.41-2.71 vs. 3.81-4.27 mmol/L; TGC 1.55-1.93 vs. 1.85-2.25 mmol/L; GLU 5.58-6.24 vs. 5.97-6.67 mmol/L; TPROT 55.2-59.4 vs. 65-69.9 g/L; ALB 13.4-15.1 vs. 27.8-30.9 g/L, GLOB 41.3-44.8 vs. 35.3-40.9 g/L; UREA mmol/L; TBIL 36.6-44.5 vs. 29.4-40.8 μmol/L; ALFAAMYLASE 897-998 vs. 851-949 U/L; LIPASE 74.1-79.7 vs. 88.3-98.1 U/L; CORT 140-196 vs. 41.4-63.8 ng/mL; INSUL 4.04-5.68 vs. 1.71-2.41 μU/L. The RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC values recorded were found to be higher in the piglets aged 21 days than those in the piglets aged 1 day. The total leukocyte count did not differ between the experimental groups. Lower AST, ALT, globulin, cortisol and insulin values were detected in the piglets aged 21 days than those in the piglets aged 1 day. However, the values of triglycerides, cholesterol, total protein, albumin and lipase were found to be higher in the piglets aged 21 days than those in the piglets aged 1 day. The glucose, alpha amylase and total bilirubin (TBIL) values did not differ significantly between the experimental groups. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test conducted shows that there are significant differences in the frequency distribution of most of the blood parameters tested in the pigs aged 1 and 21 days, which confirms that a separate reference interval must be determined and applied to the respective piglet ages considered. The establishment of reference values for different age categories can facilitate the assessment of health status and productive performance of farm piglets.