Asymmetry Thresholds Reflecting the Visual Assessment of Forelimb Lameness on Circles on a Hard Surface.
Abstract: The assessment of lameness in horses can be aided by objective gait analysis tools. Despite their key role of evaluating a horse at trot on a circle, asymmetry thresholds have not been determined for differentiating between sound and lame gait during this exercise. These thresholds are essential to distinguish physiological asymmetry linked to the circle from pathological asymmetry linked to lameness. This study aims to determine the Asymmetry Indices (AIs) with the highest power to discriminate between a group of sound horses and a group of horses with consistent unilateral lameness across both circle directions, as categorized by visual lameness assessment conducted by specialist veterinarians. Then, thresholds were defined for the best performing AIs, based on the optimal sensitivity and specificity. AIs were calculated as the relative comparison between left and right minima, maxima, time between maxima and upward amplitudes of the vertical displacement of the head and the withers. Except the AI of maxima difference, the head AI showed the highest sensitivity (≥69%) and the highest specificity (≥81%) for inside forelimb lameness detection and the withers AI showed the highest sensitivity (≥72%) and the highest specificity (≥77%) for outside forelimb lameness detection on circles.
Publication Date: 2023-10-25 PubMed ID: 37958073PubMed Central: PMC10650068DOI: 10.3390/ani13213319Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research details the process of determining asymmetry thresholds for visual assessment of lameness in horses, especially when trotting in circles on hard surfaces. It identifies Asymmetry Indices (AIs) that have high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between sound and lame horses.
Objective of study
- The purpose of this research was to facilitate the assessment of lameness in horses by determining the Asymmetry Indices (AIs) with high power to differentiate between sound and lame horses.
- The researchers aimed to define thresholds for AIs that show optimal sensitivity and specificity during the activity of trotting in circles on hard surfaces.
Methodology
- Two groups of horses were involved in the study, one with sound mobility and another with consistent unilateral lameness.
- Lameness assessment was conducted visually by specialist veterinarians.
- Asymmetry Indices (AIs) were computed as the relative comparison between the left and right minima, maxima, time between maxima, and upward amplitudes of the vertical displacement of the horse’s head and withers (the highest part of the back at the base of the neck).
Findings
- Except for the asymmetry index of maximum differences, the AI measurements of the head provided high sensitivity and specificity rates (69% and 81%, respectively) for detecting inside forelimb lameness.
- Similarly, measurements of the withers gave high sensitivity and specificity (72% and 77%, respectively) for outside forelimb lameness identification when the horse moves in a circular pattern.
- The obtained AI thresholds can potentially support the visual assessment of forelimb lameness in horses by veterinarians and professionals in equine health and performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Macaire C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Denoix JM, Coudry V, Jacquet S, Bertoni L, Tallaj A, Audigié F, Hatrisse C, Hébert C, Martin P, Marin F, Chateau H.
(2023).
Asymmetry Thresholds Reflecting the Visual Assessment of Forelimb Lameness on Circles on a Hard Surface.
Animals (Basel), 13(21), 3319.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213319 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Labcom LIM-ENVA, LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Laboratoire de BioMécanique et BioIngénierie (UMR CNRS 7338), Centre of Excellence for Human and Animal Movement Biomechanics (CoEMoB), Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), Alliance Sorbonne Université, 60200 Compiègne, France.
- Labcom LIM-ENVA, LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
- Labcom LIM-ENVA, LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France.
- Labcom LIM-ENVA, LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France.
- Laboratoire de BioMécanique et BioIngénierie (UMR CNRS 7338), Centre of Excellence for Human and Animal Movement Biomechanics (CoEMoB), Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC), Alliance Sorbonne Université, 60200 Compiègne, France.
- CIRALE, USC 957 BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
Grant Funding
- ANR 16-LCV2-0002-01 / Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- 20E01636 / European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) Ru00e9gion Normandie
Conflict of Interest Statement
The project was supported by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) which sponsors a collaborative project between a company (LIM France) and the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort (ENVA).
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