Effects of the Theranekron®”an alcoholic extract of the Tarantula cubensis” on hematology and serum biochemical properties in horses

Theranekron®is commercially available, alcoholic extract of the tarantula cubensis(brown spider).Ten healthy thoroughbred mare racehorses were used at the present study. Blood samples were taken 30 minutes before and 8, 24, 48, 72 and 168h aftersubcutaneousadministration of 10ml Theranekron (1mg/48kg or 0.02mg/kgbw) via a jugular catheter. The results of this study showed that sampling time had a significant effects on the amount of PCV, hemoglobin concentration, RBC number, total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, BUN, creatinine, bilirubin, activity of ALT, and ALP (p <0.05) while, had no significant effects on MCV, MCH and MCHC amounts, WBC numbers, fibrinogen concentration, AST, CPK and GGT activities (p >0.05). In conclusion, most of the observed changes in hematological and serum biochemical parameters were statistically and not clinically significant. Thus it seems that administration of Theranekron has no adverse reaction in experimental horses.