Endoscopic scoring of the tracheal septum in horses and its clinical relevance for the evaluation of lower airway health in horses.
Abstract: Although endoscopic scoring of the tracheal septum thickness is used as a diagnostic tool for evaluation of lower airway disease, its clinical relevance and reliability have never been critically assessed in the horse. Objective: To investigate if septum thickness scores (STS) are reliable and serve as a clinically useful indicator of lower airway disease status and/or inflammation. Methods: The variance of STS attributable to the horse, observer and changes over time was determined. The distribution of STS in a population of clinically normal horses and correlations of STS with age, gender, as well as mucus accumulation and cell differentials of tracheobronchial secretions and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were investigated. Effects of altered pulmonary ventilation, induced by different drugs, on STS were assessed. Finally, STS of horses affected with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) were compared to those of clinically normal horses. Results: Recorded STS showed excellent intra- and satisfactory interobserver agreement Established clinical, endoscopic and cytological measures of lower airway inflammation, i.e. mucus accumulation scores and airway neutrophilia, did not correlate with STS. In horses age > or = 10 years, septum scores were significantly higher (P = 0.022) than in younger horses. Septum thickness scores did not differ significantly between clinically normal and RAO-affected horses both in exacerbation and in remission. Horses with markedly increased breathing effort (i.e. with metacholine- or lobeline hydrochloride-challenge), often differed markedly (up to 1.9 scores), but the average of end-inspiratory and end-expiratory STS did not differ from baseline STS. Conclusions: Endoscopic STS are a reproducible measure, but STS did not correlate with clinical, endoscopic and cytological findings indicative of RAO or inflammatory airway disease.
Publication Date: 2007-03-24 PubMed ID: 17378438DOI: 10.2746/042516407x158764Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This research article discusses the examination of the usefulness and reliability of endoscopic scoring of the tracheal septum in horses, used to assess lower airway disease. It was determined that although reliable, this method did not correlate with clinical, endoscopic, and cytological findings indicating airway inflammation or recurrent airway obstruction.
Investigation Methodology
- The study evaluated the variability of tracheal septum thickness scores (STS) due to the horse, observer, and time.
- STS distribution in a population of clinically normal horses was studied. The method explored correlations of STS with factors like age, gender, mucus accumulation, and cell differentials in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and tracheobronchial secretions.
- The effects of altered pulmonary ventilation caused by drugs on STS were assessed.
- Lastly, the study compared the STS of horses suffering from recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) and that of clinically normal horses.
Findings and Results
- The study demonstrated excellent intra (within the same person) and satisfactory inter (between different people) observer agreement on STS.
- Contrary to the pre-defined hypothesis, established clinical, endoscopic, and cytological measures of lower airway inflammation such as mucus accumulation scores and airway neutrophilia did not show a correlation with STS.
- In horses aged 10 years or older, septum scores were significantly higher than in younger horses.
- The scores did not significantly differ between clinically normal horses and those affected by RAO, whether in a state of exacerbation or in remission.
- Horses exhibiting significantly increased breathing effort, induced by administering metacholine or lobeline hydrochloride, often showed marked differences (up to 1.9 scores), but the average of end-inspiratory and end-expiratory STS did not significantly deviate from the baseline STS.
Conclusion
- The scoring method is reproducible and reliable, but did not correlate the STS with clinical, endoscopic, and cytological findings that suggested RAO or inflammatory airway disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Koch C, Straub R, Ramseyer A, Widmer A, Robinson NE, Gerber V.
(2007).
Endoscopic scoring of the tracheal septum in horses and its clinical relevance for the evaluation of lower airway health in horses.
Equine Vet J, 39(2), 107-112.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x158764 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic and Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Endoscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / diagnosis
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Mucus / cytology
- Observer Variation
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / pathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Trachea / anatomy & histology
- Trachea / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Frippiat T, Art T, Tosi I. Airway Hyperresponsiveness, but Not Bronchoalveolar Inflammatory Cytokines Profiles, Is Modified at the Subclinical Onset of Severe Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 1;13(15).
- 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, 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).
- Barton AK, Schulze T, Doherr MG, Gehlen H. Influence of bronchoalveolar lavage on thoracic radiography in the horse. J Vet Sci 2018 Jul 31;19(4):563-569.
- Meiseberg LK, Delarocque J, de Buhr N, Ohnesorge B. Clinical variability of equine asthma phenotypes and analysis of diagnostic steps in phenotype differentiation. Acta Vet Scand 2024 Sep 18;66(1):51.
- Simões J, Tilley P. Decision Making in Severe Equine Asthma-Diagnosis and Monitoring. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 16;13(24).
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