Determination of the prevalence and severity of metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis in Thoroughbred racehorses via quantitative macroscopic evaluation.
Abstract: To determine the prevalence and severity of osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joints of Thoroughbred racehorses via development and validation of a quantitative macroscopic evaluation system. Methods: Metacarpophalangeal joints from 50 Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Joints were collected from horses that died or were euthanized within 60 days of racing. Metacarpophalangeal joints were assessed for osteoarthritic degeneration by use of macroscopic and histologic scoring systems, polarized light microscopy, and cartilage biochemical analysis. The global macroscopic score for the entire metacarpophalangeal joint was based on factors that reflected the size and severity of lesions as well as the involvement of weight-bearing surfaces. Results: One-third of all 2- and 3-year-old horses had partial-or full-thickness cartilage lesions and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis severity increased until age 6 in this population. Significant correlations were found between macroscopic grade and age, cause of death, glycosaminoglycan depletion, and loss of superficial cartilage zone polarized light intensity. Conclusions: The macroscopic system devised for this study had good correlations with quantitative methods. Two-and 3-year-old horses had full-thickness cartilage lesions that may have been career limiting. Year-to-year attrition and a small population of older horses may have led to underestimation of the prevalence of osteoarthritis in older horses. The macroscopic scoring system was reliable when used by nonexpert and expert users.
Publication Date: 2010-11-03 PubMed ID: 21034319DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1284Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Age Factors
- Animal Health
- Cartilage
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Severity
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Glycosaminoglycan
- Histology
- Joint Health
- Macroscopic Examination
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Musculoskeletal System
- Osteoarthritis
- Pathology
- Racehorses
- Thoroughbreds
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This study primarily aimed to establish the extent and degree of osteoarthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joints of Thoroughbred racehorses. Researchers developed and tested a quantitative macroscopic evaluation system and found that a significant portion of young horses exhibited cartilage lesions and osteoarthritis.
Methodology
- Researchers examined metacarpophalangeal joints from 50 thoroughbred racehorses that had died or been euthanized within two months after participating in a race.
- These joints were then evaluated for signs of osteoarthritic degeneration through various methods, including macroscopic and histologic scoring systems, polarized light microscopy, and cartilage biochemical analysis.
- A cumulative macroscopic score was devised for each joint, based on the size and severity of lesions and the extent of involvement of weight-bearing surfaces.
Results
- The study found that one-third of all tested 2- and 3-year-old horses had partial or full-thickness cartilage lesions, and demonstrated signs of osteoarthritis.
- The severity of osteoarthritis increased until the age of 6 in the observed population.
- There were significant correlations identified between the macroscopic grade and age, cause of death, glycosaminoglycan depletion, and loss of the superficial cartilage zone’s polarized light intensity.
Conclusions
- The macroscopic system devised for this study showed good correlations with quantitative methods.
- Osteoarthritic symptoms, including full-thickness cartilage lesions, were discernible in two and three-year-old horses, which could potentially impact their racing careers.
- Due to yearly attrition and a small sample size of older horses, the study suggests that there may be an underestimation of the prevalence of osteoarthritis within older equine populations.
- The macroscopic scoring system proved to be a reliable tool for both expert and non-expert users.
Cite This Article
APA
Neundorf RH, Lowerison MB, Cruz AM, Thomason JJ, McEwen BJ, Hurtig MB.
(2010).
Determination of the prevalence and severity of metacarpophalangeal joint osteoarthritis in Thoroughbred racehorses via quantitative macroscopic evaluation.
Am J Vet Res, 71(11), 1284-1293.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.71.11.1284 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, ON, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cartilage / pathology
- Cartilage, Articular / pathology
- Euthanasia
- Forelimb / pathology
- Glycosaminoglycans / analysis
- Horse Diseases / classification
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / classification
- Osteoarthritis / epidemiology
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
- Photography
- Prevalence
- Registries
- Sesamoid Bones / pathology
- Severity of Illness Index
- Weight-Bearing
Grant Funding
- QNT68722 / Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Citations
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