FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Endoscopic and virological observations on respiratory disea...
Equine veterinary journal1985; 17(2); 99-103; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02059.x

Endoscopic and virological observations on respiratory disease in a group of young Thoroughbred horses in training.

Abstract: A group of racehorses in training was examined on several occasions with a fibreoptic endoscope and monitored for viral infection. Only equine herpes virus-2 (EHV-2) infection was detected. Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) was present in all horses and decreased in severity with age. There was no association between PLH severity and antibody titres to EHV-1, or with the isolation of EHV-2. Finishing position in races was not affected by PLH severity. Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) was evident on 23 out of 49 (47 per cent) examinations after maximal speed training exercise. Eighteen out of 19 (95 per cent) horses examined on at least two occasions had EIPH but its occurrence was not predictable. Observable mucoid or mucopurulent exudate was present in the trachea in 60 out of 118 (50 per cent) examinations and the amount seen was increased following exercise.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 1985-03-01 PubMed ID: 2985380DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02059.xGoogle 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
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This study investigates respiratory diseases in racehorses through endoscopic examination and monitoring for viral infection. Primarily, equine herpes virus-2 (EHV-2) was detected. The study reveals that all horses had Pharyngeal Lymphoid Hyperplasia (PLH), yet there was no correlation found between PLH’s severity and EHV-1 antibodies or EHV-2 isolation. Racing performance wasn’t affected by PLH’s severity. Furthermore, they noticed Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH) in a notable proportion of horses after intense training; its occurrence, however, was unpredictable.

Scope of the Research

  • The research centered around examining respiratory diseases in a group of Thoroughbred racehorses in training.
  • The primary method of investigation was through detailed examination using a fibreoptic endoscope and monitoring for possible viral infection.

Main Findings

  • The only virus detected throughout the study was equine herpes virus-2 (EHV-2).
  • All inspected horses were found to be dealing with the presence of Pharyngeal Lymphoid Hyperplasia (PLH), a condition that causes enlargement of the pharyngeal lymphoid tissue. The severity of this condition appeared to decline as the racehorses aged.
  • There was no discovered association between PLH and the measures of antibodies produced against EHV-1, nor any association between PLH and the isolation of EHV-2, indicating that the herpes virus did not directly influence the prevalence or severity of PLH.
  • Performance in races was not affected by the severity of PLH, suggesting that while PLH was present in all horses, it did not negatively impact their competitive performance.

Additional Observations

  • One other notable observation was the presence of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH) in 47% of the horses after they had undergone strenuous exercise or training. EIPH was defined by the presence of blood in the horse’s airways following physical exertion.
  • Despite the high incidence of EIPH, the occurrence was not predictable, and 95% of the horses examined on more than one occasion experienced EIPH.
  • Further findings showed the presence of observable mucoid or mucopurulent exudate (a form of mucus or pus) in the trachea in half of the total examinations. The observation of this exudate was seen to increase following exercise.

Cite This Article

APA
Burrell MH. (1985). Endoscopic and virological observations on respiratory disease in a group of young Thoroughbred horses in training. Equine Vet J, 17(2), 99-103. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1985.tb02059.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Pages: 99-103

Researcher Affiliations

Burrell, M H

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Endoscopy
    • Hemorrhage / veterinary
    • Herpesviridae Infections / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
    • Horses
    • Hyperplasia
    • Lung Diseases / veterinary
    • Lymph Nodes / pathology
    • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
    • Pharyngeal Diseases / veterinary
    • Physical Exertion
    • Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
    • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
    • Virus Diseases / diagnosis
    • Virus Diseases / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 16 times.
    1. 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.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.16734pubmed: 37148147google scholar: lookup
    2. 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).
      doi: 10.3390/ani12223228pubmed: 36428455google scholar: lookup
    3. 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).
      doi: 10.3390/ani12182479pubmed: 36139339google scholar: lookup
    4. Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert D, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C. The Hygienic Status of Different Forage Types for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Anamnestic Reports. Vet Sci 2022 May 6;9(5).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci9050226pubmed: 35622753google scholar: lookup
    5. 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).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci8110276pubmed: 34822649google scholar: lookup
    6. 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
    7. Poole DC, Erickson HH. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: where are we now?. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:133-148.
      doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S120421pubmed: 30050846google scholar: lookup
    8. 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
    9. Léguillette R, Steinmann M, Bond SL, Stanton B. Tracheobronchoscopic Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage and Airway Inflammation in Barrel Racing Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1327-32.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.13959pubmed: 27278854google scholar: lookup
    10. 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.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.13824pubmed: 26806374google scholar: lookup
    11. Kusano K, Ishikawa Y, Seki K, Kusunose R. Characteristic of inflammatory airway disease in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses. J Equine Sci 2008;19(2):25-9.
      doi: 10.1294/jes.19.25pubmed: 24833952google scholar: lookup
    12. Rousseau K, Cardwell JM, Humphrey E, Newton R, Knight D, Clegg P, Thornton DJ. Muc5b is the major polymeric mucin in mucus from thoroughbred horses with and without airway mucus accumulation. PLoS One 2011;6(5):e19678.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019678pubmed: 21602926google scholar: lookup
    13. Perez-Moreno CI, Couëtil LL, Pratt SM, Ochoa-Acuña HG, Raskin RE, Russell MA. Effect of furosemide and furosemide-carbazochrome combination on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Standardbred racehorses. Can Vet J 2009 Aug;50(8):821-7.
      pubmed: 19881919
    14. 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.
      doi: 10.1128/JCM.43.1.120-126.2005pubmed: 15634959google scholar: lookup
    15. Koivunen AL, Maisi P, Konttinen YT, Sandholm M. Gelatinolytic activity in tracheal aspirates of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Acta Vet Scand 1997;38(1):17-27.
      doi: 10.1186/BF03548504pubmed: 9129343google scholar: lookup
    16. Oikawa M, Takagi S, Anzai R, Yoshikawa H, Yoshikawa T. Pathology of equine respiratory disease occurring in association with transport. J Comp Pathol 1995 Jul;113(1):29-43.
      doi: 10.1016/s0021-9975(05)80066-0pubmed: 7490335google scholar: lookup
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.