Coughing in thoroughbred racehorses: risk factors and tracheal endoscopic and cytological findings.
Abstract: A matched case-control study was made of 100 thoroughbred horses which were coughing and 148 control horses which were free of clinical signs of respiratory tract disease. The variables identified by multivariable conditional logistic regression as being significantly associated with coughing included age (the risk decreased with age), the stage of training (horses in early training were at greatest risk), the time since the last race (horses that had never raced were at greatest risk) and the time since they were last transported (horses transported more than 14 days previously were more likely to cough than those transported within the last week). The coughing horses were significantly more likely to have high scores for upper and lower tracheal mucus and pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia. In addition, the tracheal aspirates of the coughing horses had increased odds of neutrophilia and were more likely to have intracellular bacteria than the control horses. However, a considerable proportion of the control horses had cytological and/or endoscopic evidence of airway inflammation.
Publication Date: 2001-03-10 PubMed ID: 11232940DOI: 10.1136/vr.148.4.99Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the factors associated with coughing in thoroughbred racehorses, indicating that age, early stage of training, inexperience in racing, and long durations since transportation increase the likelihood of coughing. The study also suggests that these horses tended to show more signs of respiratory issues and presence of bacteria in tracheal aspirates.
Study Design and Participants
- The study involved 100 thoroughbred horses (cases) that exhibited signs of coughing and another 148 horses (controls) showing no signs of respiratory tract diseases.
- The research used a matched case-control study design, which is typically used when studying associations between the exposure to certain risk factors and outcomes like diseases or other health outcomes.
Findings from the Study
- The researchers used multivariable conditional logistic regression, a statistical analysis model, to determine the factors significantly associated with coughing.
- The risk factors identified were the horses’ age, the stage of training they were in, the time since they last raced, and the time since they were last transported.
- Younger horses, those in early training, horses that had never raced, and horses transported more than 14 days previously were found to be more likely to cough.
Health and Cytological Analysis
- The horses exhibiting signs of coughing were found to have high scores for upper and lower tracheal mucus and pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia, indicating an increased likelihood of experiencing airway inflammation.
- The study also found that tracheal aspirates of the coughing horses showed enhanced odds of neutrophilia (a high level of neutrophils in the blood, which typically suggests an infection) and were more likely to have intracellular bacteria.
- Interestingly, a significant proportion of the control horses who were not coughing also displayed cytological and/or endoscopic evidence of airway inflammation.
Conclusion from the Findings
- The study highlights several conditions that heighten the susceptibility of thoroughbred racehorses to respiratory issues, contributing to their overall health and performance.
- The findings can help in the early detection and prevention of respiratory diseases by allowing caregivers to adjust the horses’ schedule, training, or transportation setting based on these identified risk factors.
Cite This Article
APA
Christley RM, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Hodgson JL, Wood JL, Reid SW.
(2001).
Coughing in thoroughbred racehorses: risk factors and tracheal endoscopic and cytological findings.
Vet Rec, 148(4), 99-104.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.148.4.99 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Cough / veterinary
- Endoscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hyperplasia
- Logistic Models
- Lymphoid Tissue / pathology
- Neutrophils
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / etiology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / pathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Risk Factors
- Running
- Time Factors
- Trachea / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- 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).
- Padoan E, Ferraresso S, Pegolo S, Barnini C, Castagnaro M, Bargelloni L. Gene Expression Profiles of the Immuno-Transcriptome in Equine Asthma.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 20;13(1).
- Stucchi L, Lo Feudo CM, Stancari G, Conturba B, Ferrucci F. Effect of the Administration of a Nutraceutical Supplement in Racehorses with Lower Airway Inflammation.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 19;12(18).
- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Roberts HC, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Calvo AV, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Carvelli A, Paillot R, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Baldinelli F, Van der Stede Y. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): infection with Equine Herpesvirus-1.. EFSA J 2022 Jan;20(1):e07036.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Alberti E, Stancari G, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. The Role of Thoracic Ultrasonography and Airway Endoscopy in the Diagnosis of Equine Asthma and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.. Vet Sci 2021 Nov 15;8(11).
- Karagianni AE, Eaton SL, Kurian D, Cillán-Garcia E, Twynam-Perkins J, Raper A, Wishart TM, Pirie RS. Application across species of a one health approach to liquid sample handling for respiratory based -omics analysis.. Sci Rep 2021 Jul 12;11(1):14292.
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- 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.
- Rossi TM, Moore A, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL. Equine Rhinitis A Virus Infection at a Standardbred Training Facility: Incidence, Clinical Signs, and Risk Factors for Clinical Disease.. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:71.
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