FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Sci / Characteristic of inflammatory airway disease in Japanese th...
Journal of equine science2008; 19(2); 25-29; doi: 10.1294/jes.19.25

Characteristic of inflammatory airway disease in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Inflammatory airway disease (IAD) is a common cause of poor performance, interruption of training and premature retirement in racehorses. It is also reported that up to 80% of horses are affected at some point in the first years of training in UK and Australia. However, no studies with regard to the information on occurrence of IAD in Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses have been reported. To investigate the occurrence and the characteristics of IAD, epidemic research including endoscopic examination of the airway tract and trachea wash was conducted for Thoroughbred racehorses presenting coughs or poor performance which airway tract disease was suspected stalled in training facility managed by Japan Racing Association. Fifty-six out of 76 Thoroughbred racehorses (73.7%) presenting coughing or poor performance were diagnosed as IAD. Mean incidence rate of IAD was 0.3% and it has been confirmed that constant number of IAD exists in Japan. Up to 35.7% of IAD horses showed upper airway abnormalities in some extent. There was a trend for IAD horses to use wood shavings for bedding and fed hay from the ground compared with the control group. Therefore, improvement of stabling environment may aid in preventing IAD. This study demonstrated that Japanese Thoroughbred racehorses are affected by IAD likewise other countries as well as demonstrated the characteristics of IAD which may contribute to the clarification of the pathogenesis of IAD.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2008-07-09 PubMed ID: 24833952PubMed Central: PMC4013942DOI: 10.1294/jes.19.25Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study reveals that Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) negatively impacts thoroughbred racehorses in Japan, causing poor performance and interruptions to training. Furthermore, it recognizes some potential risk factors to IAD, suggesting improvements in stable environment as a preventative measure.

Introduction and Objective of the Study

  • The research investigates the occurrence and characteristics of Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD), a common ailment which can cause performance issues and training disruptions in racehorses. IAD had previously been reported in the UK and Australia, however, this study presents the first exploration of its prevalence in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted an epidemic study, involving endoscopic examination of the airway tracts and tracheal wash of Thoroughbred racehorses at training facilities managed by the Japan Racing Association. The horses selected for the study had displayed signs of poor performance and coughing, suggesting possible airway tract disease.
  • Out of 76 Thoroughbred racehorses, 56 were diagnosed with IAD, giving a mean incidence rate of 0.3%. This serves to validate the existence of a significant number of IAD cases in Japan.

Findings

  • The study found that up to 35.7% of the horses suffering from IAD had upper airway abnormalities. Therefore, IAD in Japanese thoroughbred horses is consistent with observations in other countries.
  • The research also uncovered trends in the living conditions of IAD horses, finding that they were likely to be bedded on wood shavings and fed hay from the ground compared to healthy horses. This insight suggests that improvements in stable environment could be beneficial in preventing the development of IAD.

Conclusion and Further Recommendations

  • The research highlights the prevalence of IAD in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses and its impact on their performance.
  • Further, it also identifies some stable environments and horse care practices that could potentially raise the risk of horses developing IAD. The study recommends that these elements be further investigated and suggests that improving the stabling environment may be a viable preventative measure against IAD.

Cite This Article

APA
Kusano K, Ishikawa Y, Seki K, Kusunose R. (2008). Characteristic of inflammatory airway disease in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses. J Equine Sci, 19(2), 25-29. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.19.25

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 2
Pages: 25-29

Researcher Affiliations

Kusano, Kanichi
  • Equine Research Institute Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-Cho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.
Ishikawa, Yuhiro
  • Ritto Training Center Japan Racing Association, 1028 Misono, Ritto City, Shiga 520-3085, Japan.
Seki, Kazuhiro
  • Miho Training Center Japan Racing Association, 2500-2 Mikoma, Miho-mura, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0493, Japan.
Kusunose, Ryo
  • Equine Research Institute Japan Racing Association, 321-4 Tokami-Cho, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan.

References

This article includes 16 references
  1. Allen KJ, Tremaine WH, Franklin SH. Prevalence of inflammatory airway disease in national hunt horses referred for investigation of poor athletic performance.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):529-34.
    pubmed: 17402478doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05599.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  2. Bailey CJ, Reid SW, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ. Impact of injuries and disease on a cohort of two- and three-year-old thoroughbreds in training.. Vet Rec 1999 Oct 23;145(17):487-93.
    pubmed: 10596871doi: 10.1136/vr.145.17.487google scholar: lookup
  3. Burrell MH. Endoscopic and virological observations on respiratory disease in a group of young Thoroughbred horses in training.. Equine Vet J 1985 Mar;17(2):99-103.
    pubmed: 2985380doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02059.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. Burrell MH, Wood JL, Whitwell KE, Chanter N, Mackintosh ME, Mumford JA. Respiratory disease in thoroughbred horses in training: the relationships between disease and viruses, bacteria and environment.. Vet Rec 1996 Sep 28;139(13):308-13.
    pubmed: 8893488doi: 10.1136/vr.139.13.308google scholar: lookup
  5. Holcombe SJ, Jackson C, Gerber V, Jefcoat A, Berney C, Eberhardt S, Robinson NE. Stabling is associated with airway inflammation in young Arabian horses.. Equine Vet J 2001 May;33(3):244-9.
    pubmed: 11352345doi: 10.2746/042516401776249606google scholar: lookup
  6. Jeffcott LB, Rossdale PD, Freestone J, Frank CJ, Towers-Clark PF. An assessment of wastage in thoroughbred racing from conception to 4 years of age.. Equine Vet J 1982 Jul;14(3):185-98.
    pubmed: 7106081doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1982.tb02389.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  7. MacNamara B, Bauer S, Iafe J. Endoscopic evaluation of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in association with poor performance in racing Standardbreds.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1990 Feb 1;196(3):443-5.
    pubmed: 2298674
  8. Manzan M, Hoffman A. Inflammatory airway disease: effect of athletic discipline. 2002 pp. 9–12.
  9. McGorum BC, Ellison J, Cullen RT. Total and respirable airborne dust endotoxin concentrations in three equine management systems.. Equine Vet J 1998 Sep;30(5):430-4.
    pubmed: 9758102doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04514.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  10. Moore BR, Krakowka S, Robertson JT, Cummins JM. Cytologic evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from standardbred racehorses with inflammatory airway disease.. Am J Vet Res 1995 May;56(5):562-7.
    pubmed: 7661448
  11. Newton JR, Wood JL, Chanter N. A case control study of factors and infections associated with clinically apparent respiratory disease in UK Thoroughbred racehorses.. Prev Vet Med 2003 Jul 30;60(1):107-32.
    pubmed: 12900152doi: 10.1016/s0167-5877(03)00085-0google scholar: lookup
  12. Raidal SL, Love DN, Bailey GD. Inflammation and increased numbers of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract of horses within 6 to 12 hours of confinement with the head elevated.. Aust Vet J 1995 Feb;72(2):45-50.
    pubmed: 7779032doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1995.tb15328.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  13. Robinson N.E. Inflammatory airway disease: defining the syndrome. Conclusions of the Havemere Work Shop. Vet. Educ. 2003 15: 61–63.
  14. Wood J.L.N., Newton J.R., Chanter N., Townsend H.G.G., Lakhani K.H., Mumford J.A., Sinclair R., Burrell M.H., Pilsworth R.C., Shepherd M., Dugdale D., Herinckx B.M.B., Main J.P.M., Windsor H., Windsor D. A longitudinal epidemiological study of respiratory disease in racehorses: disease definitions, prevalence and incidence. 1999 pp.64–70.
  15. Wood JL, Newton JR, Chanter N, Mumford JA. Association between respiratory disease and bacterial and viral infections in British racehorses.. J Clin Microbiol 2005 Jan;43(1):120-6.
    pmc: PMC540098pubmed: 15634959doi: 10.1128/jcm.43.1.120-126.2005google scholar: lookup
  16. Woods PS, Robinson NE, Swanson MC, Reed CE, Broadstone RV, Derksen FJ. Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentration in a horse stable under two different management systems.. Equine Vet J 1993 May;25(3):208-13.
    pubmed: 8508749doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02945.xgoogle scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Cullinane A, Garvey M, Walsh C, Gibbons J, Creighton A. A Scoping Review of Non-Structural Airway Disease as a Cause of Poor Performance in Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 27;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030429pubmed: 36766318google scholar: lookup
  2. Kinnison T, Cardwell JM. Conflict Between Direct Experience and Research-Based Evidence Is a Key Challenge to Evidence-Based Respiratory Medicine on British Racing Yards. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:266.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00266pubmed: 32537459google scholar: lookup
  3. da Silva KM, Otaka JNP, Gonçalves CAP, Silva EGA, de Alencar NX, Lessa DAB. Association between exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and inflammatory airway disease in polo ponies. J Equine Sci 2017;28(2):55-59.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.28.55pubmed: 28721124google scholar: lookup
  4. Kusano K, Hobo S, Ode H, Ishikawa Y. Tracheal Endoscopic and Cytological Findings and Blood Examination Results in Thoroughbred Racehorses Suspected to have Lower Respiratory Tract Disease. J Equine Sci 2008;19(4):97-102.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.19.97pubmed: 24833960google scholar: lookup
  5. Masebo NT, Benedetti B, Mountricha M, Lee L, Padalino B. A Literature Review on Equine Bedding: Impacts on Horse and Human Welfare, Health, and the Environment. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 5;15(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15050751pubmed: 40076033google scholar: lookup
  6. Fedorov A, Karasev V, Kovalev P, Shaposhnikov N, Zhitenev A. Development of Thermodynamic Criteria for Determining the Composition of Duplex Stainless Steels with High Corrosion Resistance. Materials (Basel) 2024 Jan 7;17(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ma17020294pubmed: 38255462google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,001 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.