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Topic:Respiratory Disease
Respiratory disease in horses encompasses a range of conditions affecting the respiratory system, including the upper and lower airways. These diseases can result from various etiologies such as infectious agents, environmental factors, or genetic predispositions. Common respiratory conditions in horses include equine asthma, equine influenza, and strangles. Clinical signs often associated with respiratory disease in horses include coughing, nasal discharge, and labored breathing. Diagnostic approaches may involve endoscopy, imaging, and laboratory tests to assess the function and health of the respiratory tract. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of respiratory diseases in equine populations.
Comparison of the antioxidant status in tracheal and bronchoalveolar epithelial lining fluids in recurrent airway obstruction. Following a period of airway inflammation the clearance of inflammatory cells along the mucociliary escalator may impose a considerable oxidant load on the trachea. Objective: To determine the degree of oxidative stress in tracheal epithelial lining fluid (ELF) in comparison to that present in peripheral airways after an acute exposure to organic dust. Methods: Tracheal wash fluid and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected for cytology and antioxidant analyses from 6 recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected horses and 6 healthy control horses before and after stabling on straw b...
[Pasteurella] caballi infection not limited to horses – a closer look at taxon 42 of Bisgaard. To investigate if taxon 42 of Bisgaard isolated from pigs represents genuine [Pasteurella] caballi, which was previously only isolated from horses. Results: A total of 15 field isolates from horses and pigs from five different countries representing three continents were subjected to extended phenotypical characterization. Although minor differences were observed between taxon 42 and [P.] caballi, these differences did not allow phenotypic separation. Ribotyping based on HindIII digestion showed five profiles based on nine band positions. One [P.] caballi strain and two taxon 42 strains shared...
Treatment of Coccidioides immitis pneumonia in two horses with fluconazole. Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in horses can often lead to severe systemic disease and its treatment has previously been expensive and has carried a poor prognosis. This paper describes the successful treatment of two horses with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis with a fluconazole product produced by a compounding pharmacy.
Associations between the ecology of virulent Rhodococcus equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia on Australian thoroughbred farms. The ecology of virulent strains of Rhodococcus equi on horse farms is likely to influence the prevalence and severity of R. equi pneumonia in foals. This study examined the association between the ecology of virulent R. equi and the epidemiology of R. equi pneumonia by collecting air and soil samples over two breeding seasons (28 farm-year combinations) on Thoroughbred breeding farms with different reported prevalences of R. equi pneumonia. Colony blotting and DNA hybridization were used to detect and measure concentrations of virulent R. equi. The prevalence of R. equi pneumonia was associate...
Temporal clinical exacerbation of summer pasture-associated recurrent airway obstruction and relationship with climate and aeroallergens in horses. To describe the seasonal pattern of clinical exacerbation of summer pasture-associated recurrent airway obstruction (SPA-RAO) in relation to climate and aeroallergens in horses. Methods: 19 horses with SPA-RAO and 10 nonaffected horses. Methods: Daily examinations were performed on all horses while they were kept on pasture for 3 years. Onset and progression of clinical exacerbation based on a clinical score of respiratory effort were evaluated in relation to changes in maximum temperature, minimum temperature, mean temperature, maximum dew-point temperature, minimum dew-point temperature, and...
Immunostimulatory effects of the anionic alkali mineral complex Barodon on equine lymphocytes. Previous studies have shown that the anionic alkali mineral complex BARODON has an immunoenhancing effect on pigs as an adjuvant and as a nonspecific immunostimulant. Likewise, the equine immune system has been defined with various monoclonal antibodies specific to equine leukocyte differentiation antigens to determine the possibility of enhancing equine resistance to respiratory diseases and promoting other immunostimulatory effects with the application of BARODON. Compared with the control group, after 3 weeks of treatment, BARODON-treated groups showed higher proportions of cells (P < 0.05)...
The prevalence of laryngeal disease in a large population of competition draft horses. (1) To determine the effect of age, height, weight, breed, sex, and specific use on the prevalence of idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) in a population of draft performance horses; (2) to determine the association between tracheal mucus and laryngeal dysfunction, and the prevalence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in a population of draft performance horses. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Draft horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Methods: Endoscopic examinations were performed on horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft...
Airway inflammation in Michigan pleasure horses: prevalence and risk factors. Although subclinical airway inflammation is thought to be common in horses, there is little information on its prevalence and none on risk factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for an increased number of inflammatory cells and for mucus accumulation in the trachea of pleasure horses. Methods: Horses (n = 266) in stables (n = 21) in Michigan were examined endoscopically, once in winter and once in summer 2004. Visible tracheal mucoid secretions were graded 0-5 and inflammatory cell numbers counted in a tracheal lavage sample. Information collected about each horse inc...
Measurement of abnormal respiratory sounds during over-ground exercise. The presence of abnormal respiratory sounds is commonly associated with obstructions of the upper respiratory tract. In order to establish their clinical significance measurements are required of both normal and abnormal respiratory sounds produced by horses exercising over-ground. Objective: To determine whether high quality recordings of respiratory sound can be made during over-ground exercise, and to develop a convenient measurement system that can be used to obtain respiratory sounds from horses exercising in field conditions. Methods: A range of prototypes was evaluated against the requi...
The effect of aerosolized and intravenously administered clenbuterol and aerosolized fluticasone propionate on horses challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus antigen. Beta-agonists have been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties in several experimental models. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of clenbuterol (CB), administered either intravenously or by aerosol, in comparison with fluticasone propionate (FP) in recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-susceptible horses. Eight horses, of which five were known to be susceptible to RAO, underwent an inhalation challenge with Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) antigen and were treated with CB intravenously, CB by aerosol, or FP by aerosol. Twenty-four hours after the challenge...
In vitro inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity in tracheal epithelial lining fluid from horses with recurrent airway obstruction. To evaluate inhibitory effects of synthetic matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors in vitro on gelatinolytic and collagenolytic activities in tracheal epithelial lining fluid (TELF) of horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: 10 horses with RAO and 5 healthy control horses. Methods: Substrate-based functional assays, collagen I and gelatin degradation, were used to measure endogenous collagenolytic and gelatinolytic activities in TELF. In vitro inhibition of MMP activity in TELF with 2 chemically modified tetracyclines (CMTs; CMT-3 and CMT-8) and 2 bisphosphonates (BPs; zole...
Adverse extrapyramidal effects in four horse given fluphenazine decanoate. 4 racehorses were examined because of markedly abnormal behavior following administration of fluphenazine decanoate. Results: Clinical signs included restlessness, agitation, profuse sweating, hypermetria, aimless circling, intense pawing and striking with the thoracic limbs, and rhythmic swinging of the head and neck alternating with episodes of severe stupor. Fluphenazine was detected in serum or plasma from all 4 horses. The dose of fluphenazine decanoate administered to 3 of the 4 horses was within the range (25 to 50 mg) routinely administered to adult humans. Results: In 2 horses, there ...
Rapid, multiwell colorimetric assay for measuring neutrophil chemoattractant activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. The criteria used to diagnose recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in affected horses include demonstration of reversible lower airway obstruction and greater than 25% neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Additional objective laboratory tests are needed to improve diagnostic accuracy and to monitor response to treatment. The goal of this study was to determine if neutrophil chemoattractant activity of BALF could be measured by using a previously described, rapid, multiwell colorimetric assay for chemotaxis. In this assay, neutrophils that have migrated through a membrane filter ar...
A new approach for the diagnosis of myiasis of animals: the example of horse nasal myiasis. The myiasis caused by larvae of Rhinoestrus purpureus and Rhinoestrus usbekistanicus (Diptera, Oestridae) are of importance in the horse medicine since it causes severe respiratory diseases. Therefore an accurate diagnosis of rhinoestrosis is central to its epidemiology and control. This paper describes concisely a molecular diagnostic tool that overcomes the current inherent diagnostic constraints and, therefore, is of importance to understand the actual incidence and epidemiology of this myiasis in live horses.
DNA binding activity of transcription factors in bronchial cells of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) present many similarities with human asthmatics including airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, reversible obstruction, and increased NF-kappaB expression. Studies in experimental asthma models have shown that transcriptions factors such as activator protein-1 (AP-1), GATA-3, cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) may also play an important role in airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to measure DNA binding activity of these transcription factors in the airways of horses with ...
Heaves, an asthma-like equine disease, involves airway smooth muscle remodeling. Increased airway smooth muscle mass is a prominent feature of asthmatic airway remodeling. Airway smooth muscle hyperplasia occurs in rodent models of experimental asthma, but the relevance of such finding to spontaneously occurring disease in large mammals is unknown. Objective: We examined horses with heaves, a naturally occurring equine asthma related to sensitization and exposure to moldy hay. We hypothesized that airway remodeling occurs in heaves and shares disease mechanisms with asthma. Methods: We quantified the airway smooth muscle mass and the numbers of proliferating and apoptotic ...
Comparison of concentrations of Rhodococcus equi and virulent R. equi in air of stables and paddocks on horse breeding farms in a temperate climate. Rhodococcoccus equi is a significant cause of bronchopneumonia in foals worldwide. Infection of the lungs is believed to result from inhalation of virulent R. equi in dust from contaminated environments. A measure of infectious risk in an environment is the level of airborne contamination. Objective: To assess and compare the level of airborne virulent R. equi in paddocks and stables. Methods: Air samples were collected sequentially over the 2003 foaling season from the paddocks and stables on 3 Irish horse breeding farms affected by R. equi pneumonia. Colony blotting and DNA hybridisation tec...
The role of oxidative stress in an equine model of human asthma. Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a naturally occurring respiratory disease in horses with many similarities to human asthma and, as a result, has been used as an animal model of this disease. Oxidative stress has been demonstrated to occur in a range of respiratory diseases in human beings including asthma. Quantitatively, horses have a greater non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity in the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid compared to human beings due to high ascorbic acid concentrations, which reflects their ability to synthesise ascorbic acid. Consequently, a greater oxidative load i...
The anti-inflammatory effects of IV administered clenbuterol in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Cyclic AMP elevating agents have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in addition to functions such as bronchodilation. The aim of this study was to investigate this dual action of clenbuterol (CB; Ventipulmin) on horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Seven RAO susceptible horses received inhalation challenges with aerosolised lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hay dust suspension (HDS) and Aspergillus fumigatus antigen (AF) with and without prior treatment with intravenous CB. Data showed that CB exerted significant beneficial effects on lung function, total cell count...
Comparison of four staining methods for detection of mast cells in equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Mast cells normally are present in equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), but usually represent <2% of all cells in healthy horses. An increased percentage of mast cells has been associated with airway hyperactivity and inflammatory airway diseases, but marked differences are reported between studies in normal and diseased horses. Because an abnormal mast cell count may be of clinical relevance, we compared the ability of a fast Romanowsky method to stain mast cell granules with that of 3 metachromatic stains: automated Romanowsky, May-Grünwald Giemsa, and toluidine blue stains. The B...
Effect of beclomethasone dipropionate and dexamethasone isonicotinate on lung function, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology, and transcription factor expression in airways of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is recognized to be effective for the treatment of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses. Anti-inflammatory properties of GC are thought to be mediated by suppression of inflammatory gene expression via inhibition of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-dose inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate and injectable dexamethasone 21-isonicotinate on clinical signs, pulmonary function, airway cytology, and activity of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in bronchial c...
Time-dependent alterations in gene expression of interleukin-8 in the bronchial epithelium of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. To evaluate time-dependent alterations in gene expression of chemokines in bronchial epithelium of recurrent airway obstruction (RAO)-affected horses and whether alterations resulted from increases in gene expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in cells isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Methods: 8 RAO-susceptible horses and 9 control horses. Methods: In 2 experiments, both groups of horses were evaluated after being maintained on pasture and after being stabled and fed dusty hay for 1, 14, 35, and 49 days (experiment 1) or 14 and 28 days (experiment 2). In experiment 1, gene expres...
Endothelin receptor alterations in equine airway hyperreactivity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its receptors in the airway hyperreactivity of horses with obstructive pulmonary disease associated with summer pasture (SPAOPD). The right diaphragmatic lobe of the lung of 8 clinically healthy (unaffected) and 8 SPAOPD-affected horses was collected immediately after euthanasia. Bronchial rings (4 mm wide) were prepared and mounted in organ baths and attached to force transducers interfaced with a polygraph. Four rings were used to study each ET-1 receptor; 1 ring served as the control, and the other 3 were incubate...
Report of the equine herpesvirus-1 Havermeyer Workshop, San Gimignano, Tuscany, June 2004. Amongst the infectious diseases that threaten equine health, herpesviral infections remain a world wide cause of serious morbidity and mortality. Equine herpesvirus-1 infection is the most important pathogen, causing an array of disorders including epidemic respiratory disease abortion, neonatal foal death, myeloencephalopathy and chorioretinopathy. Despite intense scientific investigation, extensive use of vaccination, and established codes of practice for control of disease outbreaks, infection and disease remain common. While equine herpesvirus-1 infection remains a daunting challenge for i...
The effects of a single acupuncture treatment in horses with severe recurrent airway obstruction. Reasons for performing studyAcupuncture may be recommended for horses with 'heaves' because it is being increasingly applied to treat human asthma. Therefore, its efficacy was investigated in horses with this asthma-like disease.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a single acupuncture treatment for the relief of airway obstruction in heaves-affected horses.Methods: The efficacy of a single acupuncture treatment was tested in 10 heaves-affected horses, and the effect of removal from the dusty stall environment in 5 heaves-affected horses. Before treatment, horses were stabled to induce airwa...
Severe pulmonary disease due to multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease in a horse. Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease was diagnosed histologically in a 17-year-old Quarter Horse intact mare that was presented with a chronic history of respiratory distress. At necropsy, the lungs were poorly collapsed and the pulmonary parenchyma contained innumerable, discrete, spherical nodules in a miliary pattern. A few similar nodules were scattered in the liver and the renal lymph nodes. Histologically, these nodules consisted of fibrosing eosinophilic granulomas. Based on histologic findings and the absence of an etiologic agent, a diagnosis of multisystemic eosinophili...
