{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:31:23Z","timestamp":1787027483942,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]],"date-time":"2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747267200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses of 12 Standardbred horses were investigated before and after exercise during late spring and summer. The environmental temperature, relative humidity, and temperature\u2013humidity index (THI) were assessed during this study. From horses, blood sampling, measurement of heart and respiratory rate (HR and RR), and measurement of rectal temperature (RT) were performed before exercise (Pre) and within 5 min following the end of the exercise (Post). THI values showed mild stress in June and high stress in July. Direct erythrocyte indices statistically increased after exercise compared to the rest condition (p &lt; 0.05). Higher serum cortisol, \u03b11-, \u03b12-, and \u03b2-globulin values were found at Post than at Pre (p &lt; 0.05), whereas lower serum albumin and A\/G ratio values were found at Post than at Pre. The HR, RR, and RT statistically increased at Post than at Pre (p &lt; 0.05). The month influenced the values of RR, platelets, cortisol, albumin, \u03b11-, \u03b12-, and \u03b2-globulins (p &lt; 0.05). Overall, the results of this study confirmed the well-recognized physiological response of athletic horses to re-establish homeostasis following exercise.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15101436","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]],"date-time":"2025-05-15T11:54:24Z","timestamp":1747310064000},"page":"1436","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature\u2013Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6139-2691","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesca","family":"Arfuso","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4343-8937","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Rizzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Perillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Prevention, Provincial Health Company of Palermo, Via Carmelo Onorato, 6, 90129 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Federica","family":"Arrigo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elisabetta","family":"Giudice","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4736-1087","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Piccione","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0066-2421","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Caterina","family":"Faggio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7299-6837","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Monteverde","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zooprophylactic Institute of Sicily \u201cA. Mirri\u201d, 90129 Palermo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1007\/BF01839160","article-title":"Biochemical and physiological parameters and estimated work output in draught horses pulling loads for long periods","volume":"16","author":"Recabarren","year":"1992","journal-title":"Vet. Res. Commun."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.4067\/S0301-732X1997000200008","article-title":"Respuesta fisiol\u00f3gica y bioqu\u00edmica del caballo de tiro a faena de aradura en suelos arroceros","volume":"29","author":"Merino","year":"1997","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Vet."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"15","article-title":"Fisiolog\u00eda del ejercicio equino. An\u00e1lisis de una experiencia sobre treadmill de alta velocidad","volume":"16","author":"Cittar","year":"2001","journal-title":"Av. Cs. Vet."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"298","DOI":"10.1016\/j.still.2007.01.006","article-title":"Effect of cutting edge thickness and state of wear of ploughshare on draught force and heart rates of Sanga oxen in Ghana","volume":"95","author":"Bobobee","year":"2007","journal-title":"Soil Tillage Res."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jevs.2014.12.018","article-title":"Effect of the work performed by tourism carriage horses on physiological and blood parameters","volume":"35","author":"Vergara","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Equine Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"957","DOI":"10.1007\/s00484-023-02467-7","article-title":"Heat stress in horses: A literature review","volume":"67","author":"Kang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Biometeorol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jevs.2024.105136","article-title":"Welfare and stress assessment of tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily","volume":"139","author":"Arfuso","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Equine Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"240","DOI":"10.1111\/avj.12454","article-title":"Exertional heat illness: A review of the syndrome affecting racing Thoroughbreds in hot and humid climates","volume":"94","author":"Brownlow","year":"2016","journal-title":"Aust. Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Padalino, B., Raidal, S.L., Hall, E., Knight, P., Celi, P., Jeffcott, L., Muscatello, G., and Hills, R.K. (2016). A survey on transport management practices associated with injuries and health problems in horses. PLoS ONE, 11.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0162371"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2024","DOI":"10.1039\/C5MB00788G","article-title":"Proteomics and the search for welfare and stress biomarkers in animal production in the one-health context","volume":"12","author":"Cristobal","year":"2016","journal-title":"Mol. Biosyst."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"McIlwraith, C.W., and Rollin, B.E. (2011). Equine welfare and ethics. Equine Welfare, Blackwell-Wiley."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aragona, F., Arfuso, F., Fazio, F., De Caro, S., Giudice, E., Monteverde, V., Piccione, G., and Giannetto, C. (2023). Circadian variation of peripheral blood cells in horses maintained in different environmental and management conditions. Animals, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13111865"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"290","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04229.x","article-title":"Stress hormones, proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, and autoimmunity","volume":"966","author":"Elenkov","year":"2002","journal-title":"Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rvsc.2016.07.007","article-title":"Periparturient immunosuppression and strategies to improve dairy cow health during the periparturient period","volume":"108","author":"Aleri","year":"2016","journal-title":"Res. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0442.1973.tb01066.x","article-title":"Circulatory effects of splenectomy in the horse: III. Effect on pulse-work relationship","volume":"20","author":"Persson","year":"1973","journal-title":"Zentralbl. Veterinarmed. A"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1016\/S0749-0739(17)30745-9","article-title":"Hematologic responses to exercise and training","volume":"1","author":"Rose","year":"1985","journal-title":"J. N. Am. Equine Pract."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Grz\u0119dzicka, J., D\u0105browska, I., Malin, K., and Witkowska-Pi\u0142aszewicz, O. (2023). Exercise-related changes in the anabolic index (testosterone to cortisol ratio) and serum amyloid A concentration in endurance and racehorses at different fitness levels. Front. Vet. Sci., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2023.1148990"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.2174\/1875399X01609010104","article-title":"Use of the Testosterone\/Cortisol Ratio Variable in Sports","volume":"9","year":"2016","journal-title":"Open Sports Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1016\/S0737-0806(01)70017-2","article-title":"Physiologic responses of acclimatized or non-acclimatized mature reining horses to heat stress: I. heart rate, respiration rate, lactate, rectal temperature, cortisol and packed cell volume","volume":"21","author":"Rammerstorfer","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Equine Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0442.1997.tb01094.x","article-title":"Heart rate and blood lactate responses to submaximal treadmill exercise in the normally performing standardbred trotter. Age and sex variations and predictability from total red blood cell volume","volume":"44","author":"Persson","year":"1997","journal-title":"Zentralbl. Veterinarmed. A"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"15","article-title":"Relaci\u00f3n entre el trabajo realizado y la respuesta cardio-respiratoria al ejercicio en dos grupos de caballos de tiro","volume":"26","author":"Iglesias","year":"1994","journal-title":"Arch. Med. Vet."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1111\/j.2042-3306.2012.00666.x","article-title":"Respiratory responses to exercise in the horse","volume":"44","author":"Franklin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Equine Vet. J."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Mira, M.C., Lamy, E., Santos, R., Williams, J., Pinto, M.V., Martins, P.S., Rodrigues, P., and Marlin, D. (2021). Salivary cortisol and eye temperature changes during endurance competitions. BMC Vet. Res., 17.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-021-02985-9"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1186\/1751-0147-54-42","article-title":"Temperature regulation in horses during exercise and recovery in a cool environment","volume":"54","author":"Wallsten","year":"2012","journal-title":"Acta Vet. Scand."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/S0306-4565(97)00047-8","article-title":"Thermoneutral zone and critical temperatures of horses","volume":"23","author":"Morgan","year":"1998","journal-title":"J. Therm. Biol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livprodsci.2004.11.015","article-title":"Influence of temperature stress on the energy and protein metabolism and requirements of the working horse","volume":"92","author":"Ott","year":"2005","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/10\/1436\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:33:34Z","timestamp":1760031214000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/10\/1436"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["ani15101436"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani15101436","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,15]]}}}