Clinical and diagnostic features of inflammatory airway disease subtypes in horses examined because of poor performance: 98 cases (2004-2010).
Abstract: To determine whether there are important differences relating to seasonality of signs or clinical features between subtypes of inflammatory airway disease (IAD) in horses caused by neutrophilic and eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation having dissimilar etiopathologic pathways. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 98 horses. Methods: Data were compiled from medical records of horses examined because of poor performance from 2004 through 2010. Horses underwent a standardized high-speed treadmill test, lameness evaluation, cardiac evaluation, and postexercise bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). By means of standard BAL cytologic criteria, horses were divided into 4 groups: eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation, neutrophilia only, mixed inflammation, or no inflammation (control). Associations between IAD subtype and clinical parameters were investigated. Results: Data for 98 horses were obtained, including age, career, season of admission, and results of hematologic evaluation, high-speed treadmill arterial blood gas analysis, upper airway endoscopy, cardiologic evaluation, and BAL. Cytologic evidence of IAD was found in 81% (79/98) of the horses, and 30% (30/98) had erythrocytes present in the BAL fluid after exercise. Horses in the eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation and mixed-inflammation groups were significantly more likely to be Thoroughbred than Standardbred and have larger amounts of mucus in their BAL fluid. No significant differences were found in season of evaluation, results of exercising blood gas analyses, or comorbidities. Conclusions: No association between season and cytologic profile of BAL fluid and no major effects of IAD subtype on pulmonary gas exchange during exercise were seen in this population of horses.
Publication Date: 2013-04-04 PubMed ID: 23547679DOI: 10.2460/javma.242.8.1138Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Clinical Study
- Cytology
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Eosinophils
- Equine Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Horses
- Inflammatory Response
- Mast Cells
- Neutrophils
- Performance Horses
- Respiratory Disease
- Retrospective Study
- Standardbred Horses
- Thoroughbreds
- Treadmill Exercise
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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The research study investigates if seasonal patterns or clinical features differ between subtypes of a condition, called inflammatory airway disease (IAD), in horses which can be categorized based on neutrophilic and eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation. The study was a retrospective survey of 98 horses’ medical records spanning 2004 through 2010. Findings revealed similarities across different seasons, and no major effects of the specific IAD subtype on lung functionality during physical activity.
About the Study
- The research examined historical data from medical records of 98 horses that showcased poor performance between 2004 and 2010.
- The workout regime for horses included a standardized high-speed treadmill test. Horses also underwent lameness evaluation, cardiac evaluation, and a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) after exercise to assess lung-related issues.
- Based on standard BAL cytologic criteria, the horses were classified into four groups: eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation, neutrophilia only, mixed inflammation, or no inflammation (control).
- The researchers explored connections between the type of IAD and various clinical parameters.
Findings of the Study
- Out of 98 horses, the data collected ranged from age, career, and season of admission to results of hematologic evaluation, high-speed treadmill arterial blood gas analysis, upper airway endoscopy, cardiologic evaluation, and BAL.
- About 81% (79 out of 98) of the horses showcased cytologic evidence of IAD, and 30% (30 out of 98) had blood cells present in the BAL fluid post-exercise.
- Thoroughbred horses were more prone to having larger quantities of mucus in their BAL fluid and were more likely to fall in the eosinophilic-mastocytic inflammation and mixed inflammation groups than the Standardbred ones.
- No significant variations were found in the season of evaluation, results of exercising blood gas analyses, or comorbidities among different types of IAD.
Conclusions of the Study
- The study suggests no significant relationship between the season and cytologic profile of BAL fluid, regardless of the type of IAD.
- There were no substantial effects observed of the IAD subtype on the horse’s lung gas exchange during physical activity.
Cite This Article
APA
Nolen-Walston RD, Harris M, Agnew ME, Martin BB, Reef VB, Boston RC, Davidson EJ.
(2013).
Clinical and diagnostic features of inflammatory airway disease subtypes in horses examined because of poor performance: 98 cases (2004-2010).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 242(8), 1138-1145.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.242.8.1138 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA 19348, USA. rnolenw@vet.upenn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Eosinophils
- Female
- Horse Diseases / classification
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / classification
- Inflammation / diagnosis
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Male
- Mast Cells
- Neutrophils
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / classification
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / pathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Medical Disorders and Racing Outcomes in Poorly Performing Standardbred Trotter Racehorses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Medical causes of poor performance and their associations with fitness in Standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1514-1527.
- Kang H, Lee GKC, Bienzle D, Arroyo LG, Sears W, Lillie BN, Beeler-Marfisi J. Equine alveolar macrophages and monocyte-derived macrophages respond differently to an inflammatory stimulus. PLoS One 2023;18(3):e0282738.
- 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).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Ferrucci F. Impact of Lower Airway Inflammation on Fitness Parameters in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 21;12(22).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Alberti E, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and Fitness Parameters Measured by Incremental Treadmill Test in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 12;12(4).
- Couetil L, Cardwell JM, Leguillette R, Mazan M, Richard E, Bienzle D, Bullone M, Gerber V, Ivester K, Lavoie JP, Martin J, Moran G, Niedźwiedź A, Pusterla N, Swiderski C. Equine Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:450.
- Stucchi L, Alberti E, Stancari G, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. The Relationship between Lung Inflammation and Aerobic Threshold in Standardbred Racehorses with Mild-Moderate Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 27;10(8).
- Brankston G, Greer AL, Marshall Q, Lang B, Moore K, Hodgins D, Hennessey JTG, Beeler-Marfisi J. Increased Weekly Mean PM(2.5), and NO(2) Are Associated With Increased Proportions of Lower Airway Granulocytes in Ontario Horses. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:185.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Moore GE. An observational study of environmental exposures, airway cytology, and performance in racing thoroughbreds. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1754-1762.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Moore GE, Zimmerman NJ, Raskin RE. Environmental exposures and airway inflammation in young thoroughbred horses. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):918-24.
- Bozzola C, Sala G, Stancari G, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Airway Inflammation in Racehorses Affected by Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 5;15(17).
- Lendl L, Barton AK. Equine Asthma Diagnostics: Review of Influencing Factors and Difficulties in Diagnosing Subclinical Disease. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 4;14(23).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Evaluation of fitness parameters in relation to racing results in 245 Standardbred trotter horses submitted for poor performance examination: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2023;18(10):e0293202.
- Hostetter SJ, Clark SK, Gilbertie JM, Wiechert SA, Jones DE, Sponseller BA. Age-related variation in the cellular composition of equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Vet Clin Pathol 2017 Jun;46(2):344-353.
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