Avaliação da atividade das enzimas musculares de equinos (Equus caballos) em cavalgadas na Região do Recôncavo da Bahia

Abstract

Nowadays equestrian competitions move the local economy either through rodeos or through horseback riding, ceasing to be a leisure activity to become sport. The equine is the focus of several surveys to assess athletic performance and the horseback riding although not regulated by the population is quite prestigious. Therefore, the animals are subjected to strenuous exercise and often are not conditioned for the activity. Wherefore, this study aimed to evaluate the profile of muscle enzymes of horses of cavalcade from Bahia Reconcavo region in the course of approximately 14,5Km. Thirty-six equines males and females, age, race, and varied weight were assessed for biochemical profile quantifying muscle enzyme activity of CK, AST and LDH before and after the ride. The results from the levels of muscle enzymes showed changes in levels of CK enzymes (244.9 ± 158.6 IU/L before; 413 ± 1157 IU/L, p <0.05), AST (208.5±105.9 IU/L before; 227.7 ± 82,7 IU/L, p> 0.05) LDH (181.3 ± 494.64 IU/L before; 521.5 ± 262.16 IU/L after, p> 0.05) before and after exercise, indicating that the animals participants of the horseback ridings of Bahia Reconcavo, probably due to lack of proper training, gained muscle damage with increased CK enzyme and even before starting the route of the riding, the animals already had elevations of muscle enzymes compared to normal values. Therefore, the increase in muscle enzymes before and after the ride was an expected finding because of the profile of sedentary animals. The study was promising allowing the identification of these biochemical changes that may help to veterinarians to establish an efficient training program for these animals, improving their performance during physical activities avoiding potential injuries resulting from poorly dimensioned exercise. However more studies are needed to elucidate the actual changes resulting from the physical effort made during the horseback riding.