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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2023; 64(10); 933-940; doi: 10.1002/vetr.298

A retrospective study of equine perinatal loss in Canada (2007 to 2020).

Abstract: This study aims to identify the most common causes of equine perinatal loss up to 7 d of age in Canada. Equine. Necropsy reports from 360 equine perinatal loss cases were acquired from provincial veterinary diagnostic labs across Canada. Each case was classified into a basic cause (noninfectious, infectious, or unidentified) of perinatal loss, then further classified into primary and secondary categories for analysis. Of the basic causes of perinatal loss, noninfectious causes were the most common. Bacterial causes, such as septicemia, were the most common primary diagnosis overall. was the most commonly identified bacterial species. This study showed similar results to those of studies conducted in other countries, including having similar etiologic agents identified. The high prevalence of thyroid hyperplasia identified in this study is notable and was not reported in other, similar retrospective studies, despite being reported in locations other than Canada. Perinatal loss can have important economic consequences for horse breeders; thus, identification of the most common causes is of interest to both veterinarians and breeders. Étude rétrospective des décès périnataux équins au Canada (2007 à 2020). Cette étude vise à identifier les causes les plus courantes de décès périnatal équin jusqu’à l’âge de 7 jours au Canada. Cheval. Les rapports d’autopsie de 360 cas de décès périnatal équin ont été acquis auprès de laboratoires provinciaux de diagnostic vétérinaire à travers le Canada. Chaque cas a été classé selon une cause fondamentale (non infectieuse, infectieuse ou non identifiée) de décès périnatal, puis classé en catégories primaires et secondaires pour analyse. Parmi les causes fondamentales de décès périnatal, les causes non infectieuses étaient les plus fréquentes. Les causes bactériennes, telles que la septicémie, étaient le diagnostic principal le plus courant dans l’ensemble. était le genre bactérien le plus fréquemment identifié. Cette étude a montré des résultats similaires à ceux d’études menées dans d’autres pays, y compris l’identification d’agents étiologiques similaires. La forte prévalence de l’hyperplasie thyroïdienne identifiée dans cette étude est remarquable et n’a pas été signalée dans d’autres études rétrospectives similaires, bien qu’elle ait été signalée dans des endroits autres que le Canada. Le décès périnatal peut entraîner des conséquences économiques importantes pour les éleveurs de chevaux; ainsi, l’identification des causes les plus courantes intéresse à la fois les vétérinaires et les éleveurs.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-02 PubMed ID: 37780478PubMed Central: PMC10506350DOI: 10.1002/vetr.298Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study provides an analysis of the most prevalent causes of equine perinatal death in Canada, revealing noninfectious causes as most common and highlighting a notably high prevalence of thyroid hyperplasia.

Introduction

The primary focus of the study was to identify the common causes of euthanasia in newborn horses (equine perinatal loss) within the first week (up to 7 days) of their life in Canada. The reason for the investigation was the significant economic impact of perinatal loss on horse breeders, necessitating research to provide a solution to this prevalent problem.

Methods

  • Data for the study was collected from necropsy reports of 360 equine perinatal loss cases from provincial veterinary diagnostic labs scattered across Canada.
  • Each of the cases was categorized into a basic cause (noninfectious, infectious, or unidentified) of perinatal loss and then further categorized into primary and secondary categories for analysis.

Results

  • The analysis showed that noninfectious causes were the most common reason for perinatal loss in horses. Specific cases attributed to noninfectious causes, however, are not mentioned in the abstract.
  • The research also surfaced bacterial causes, such as septicemia, as the most commonplace primary diagnosis, which is further supported by the fact that bacteria was the most commonly identified species in the cases studied but the specific bacteria is not specified in the abstract.
  • The results of this Canadian study paralleled findings from similar studies conducted in other countries including the types of causative agents identified.
  • An important finding from this research was the high incidence of thyroid hyperplasia, which had not been reported in other similar retrospective studies, though it had been reported in locations other than Canada.

Implications

  • This research provides valuable information for horse breeders and veterinarians, offering insights into the frequent causes of equine perinatal loss.
  • The findings can guide preventative healthcare in horses and contribute toward enhancing the economic sustainability of horse breeding businesses.

Cite This Article

APA
Ricard RM, St-Jean G, Atwal HK, Wobeser BK. (2023). A retrospective study of equine perinatal loss in Canada (2007 to 2020). Can Vet J, 64(10), 933-940. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.298

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 10
Pages: 933-940

Researcher Affiliations

Ricard, R Madison
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Ricard, Wobeser); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q J2S 2M2 (St-Jean); Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V3G 2M3 (Atwal).
St-Jean, Guillaume
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Ricard, Wobeser); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q J2S 2M2 (St-Jean); Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V3G 2M3 (Atwal).
Atwal, Harveen K
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Ricard, Wobeser); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q J2S 2M2 (St-Jean); Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V3G 2M3 (Atwal).
Wobeser, Bruce K
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4 (Ricard, Wobeser); Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Q J2S 2M2 (St-Jean); Animal Health Centre, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia V3G 2M3 (Atwal).

MeSH Terms

  • Pregnancy
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Veterinarians

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Chatha MA, Ahmad N, Abbas MA, Saadullah M, Khan JA. Effect of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the growth and development of young foals under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0310784.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310784pubmed: 39883625google scholar: lookup
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