Endoscopic assessment of airway function as a predictor of racing performance in Thoroughbred yearlings: 427 cases (1997-2000).
Abstract: To compare endoscopic findings of the upper portion of the respiratory tract in Thoroughbred yearlings with their subsequent race records to determine whether subjective assessment of airway function may be used as a predictor of future racing performance. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 427 Thoroughbred yearlings. Methods: Endoscopic examination findings were obtained from the medical records and the videoendoscopic repository of the Keeneland 1996 September yearling sales. Racing records were requested for the yearlings through the end of their 4-year-old racing season (1997-2000). Twenty-nine measures of racing performance were correlated with endoscopic findings. Subjective arytenoid cartilage movement grades were determined, using a 4-point grading scale (grade 1 = symmetrical synchronous abduction of the arytenoid cartilages; grade 4 = no substantial movement of the left arytenoid cartilage). Results: Of the 427 Thoroughbred yearlings included in this study, 364 established race records, and 63 did not. Opinions regarding suitability for purchase, meeting conditions of the sale, and the presence of epiglottic abnormalities had no significant association with racing performance. Arytenoid cartilage movement grades were significantly associated with many of the dependent variables. However, palatine abnormalities were not predictive of inferior racing performance. Conclusions: Thoroughbred yearlings with grade-1 and -2 arytenoid cartilage movements had significantly better racing performance as adults, compared with yearlings with grade-3 arytenoid cartilage movements. In contrast, epiglottic and palatine abnormalities were not predictive of inferior racing performance. Therefore, evaluation of laryngeal function, but not epiglottic or palatine abnormalities, using the 4-point grading system, should be the major factor in developing recommendations for prospective buyers.
Publication Date: 2001-10-17 PubMed ID: 11601794DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.962Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates whether endoscopic findings of thoroughbred yearlings’ respirational tract can be used as a future predictor of racing performance. The study establishes that the assessment of laryngeal function is a significant factor in these future predictions.
Methodology of the Study
- The study conducted was retrospective and involved 427 thoroughbred yearlings.
- Endoscopic examination findings were obtained from the medical records and a videoendoscopic repository.
- The team requested racing records of the yearlings through their 4-year-old racing season (1997-2000).
- TWenty-nine measures of racing performance were correlated with endoscopic findings.
- The subjective arytenoid cartilage movement grades were determined based on a 4-point grading scale. The scale varies from grade 1 which is defined as symmetrical synchronous abduction of the arytenoid cartilages to grade 4 which means no substantial movement of the left arytenoid cartilage.
Key Findings of the Study
- Out of 427 thoroughbred yearlings included in the study, 364 had established racing records, while 63 did not.
- It was found that evaluations like the suitability for purchase, meeting sales conditions and the presence of epiglottic abnormalities bore no significant relation to the racing performance of the yearlings.
- The grades of arytenoid cartilage movement were significantly correlated with many of the dependent variables.
- On the other hand, palatine abnormalities were not indicative of future poor racing performance.
Conclusion of the Research Study
- The research concludes that thoroughbred yearlings which had grade-1 and -2 arytenoid cartilage movements showed a significantly better racing performance as adults compared to those with grade-3 arytenoid cartilage movements.
- Interestingly, abnormalities in the epiglottis and palate showed no predictive values regarding inferior racing performance.
- Therefore, this study suggests that laryngeal function evaluation, and not an assessment of epiglottic or palatine abnormalities, should be the primary factor while developing recommendations for prospective buyers.
Cite This Article
APA
Stick JA, Peloso JG, Morehead JP, Lloyd J, Eberhart S, Padungtod P, Derksen FJ.
(2001).
Endoscopic assessment of airway function as a predictor of racing performance in Thoroughbred yearlings: 427 cases (1997-2000).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 219(7), 962-967.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.962 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arytenoid Cartilage / physiology
- Arytenoid Cartilage / physiopathology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Laryngoscopy / veterinary
- Male
- Movement
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Retrospective Studies
- Running / physiology
- Sports
- Videotape Recording
Citations
This article has been cited 8 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).
- Ahern BJ, Sole A, de Klerk K, Hogg LR, Vallance SA, Bertin FR, Franklin SH. Evaluation of postsale endoscopy as a predictor of future racing performance in an Australian thoroughbred yearling population.. Aust Vet J 2022 Jun;100(6):254-260.
- Caspers MK, Bell CD, Tatarniuk DM. Transendoscopic Ventriculocordectomy Using Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrumentation for Conjunctive Treatment of Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Horses: 24 Cases (2017-2019).. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:628410.
- Miller SM. Endoscopic recurrent laryngeal neuropathy grade prevalence in a sample of thoroughbred yearlings at public auction in South Africa (2013-2019).. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2020 Apr 20;91(0):e1-e5.
- Grzeskowiak RM, Schumacher J, Mulon PY, Steiner RC, Cassone L, Anderson DE. Ex-vivo Mechanical Testing of Novel Laryngeal Clamps Used for Laryngeal Advancement Constructs.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:139.
- Boyko AR, Brooks SA, Behan-Braman A, Castelhano M, Corey E, Oliveira KC, Swinburne JE, Todhunter RJ, Zhang Z, Ainsworth DM, Robinson NE. Genomic analysis establishes correlation between growth and laryngeal neuropathy in Thoroughbreds.. BMC Genomics 2014 Apr 3;15:259.
- Collins N, Milne E, Hahn C, Dixon P. Correlation of the Havemeyer endoscopic laryngeal grading system with histopathological changes in equine Cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscles.. Ir Vet J 2009 May 1;62(5):334-8.
- Witte TH, Cheetham J, Rawlinson JJ, Soderholm LV, Ducharme NG. A transducer for measuring force on surgical sutures.. Can J Vet Res 2010 Oct;74(4):299-304.
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