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Environmental heat and airborne pollen concentration are associated with increased asthma severity in horses.
Abstract: Clinical exacerbations of severe equine asthma (formerly recurrent airway obstruction [RAO]) are more frequently reported during winter when horses are exposed to airborne dusts during stabling. However, we have also observed a worsening of clinical signs on days during a heatwave. Objective: To investigate the association between environmental temperature and humidity and clinical signs of asthma in horses during clinical exacerbation of the disease. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal study. Methods: Historical data on 14 severe asthmatic horses exposed to a dusty environment and evaluated using a previously validated clinical scoring system were analysed. Barn temperature and relative humidity values were obtained and air enthalpy (h) calculated. Correlation tests were used to study the relationship between mean daily clinical scores of horses and environmental variables. Lung function parameters recorded at 4 day intervals during hot (25°C) and warm (18°C) barn conditions were compared using a paired t test. Results: Significant positive correlations were observed between the mean daily clinical score and temperature (r = 0.58, P = 0.01) and air enthalpy (r = 0.55, P = 0.02). Maximal daily temperature correlated with airborne pollen concentrations (r = 0.51, P = 0.0002). In the absence of changes in the management of horses, higher barn temperature and enthalpy were associated with increased transpulmonary pressure (P = 0.005), pulmonary resistance (P = 0.008) and elastance values (P = 0.005). Conclusions: Providing a cold environment may help attenuate the severity of airway obstruction in uncontrolled exacerbations of severe equine asthma. Furthermore, variations in environmental heat and associated pollen concentrations should also be taken into account when evaluating the response to therapy in clinical or research settings.
© 2016 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2016-02-06 PubMed ID: 26708931DOI: 10.1111/evj.12559Google 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.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the association between environmental heat and pollen concentration with an increase in asthma severity in horses. The longitudinal study found significant correlations suggesting that a colder environment could reduce the severity of airway obstruction in horses with severe equine asthma.
Objective and Methodology
The main objective was to study the association between environmental temperature, humidity and clinical signs of asthma in horses, particularly during exacerbation periods of the disease.
A retrospective longitudinal study was performed on 14 severe asthmatic horses that were exposed to dusty environments. The horses were evaluated using a previously validated clinical scoring system.
- Data on barn temperature and relative humidity values were gathered and air enthalpy was calculated.
- The researchers used correlation tests to study the relationship between the mean daily clinical scores of horses and environmental variables.
- To compare, lung function parameters were recorded at 4-day intervals during both hot (25°C) and warm (18°C) barn conditions.
Results
The study revealed significant positive correlations between the mean daily clinical score and temperature, and between the mean daily score and air enthalpy. Additionally, maximal daily temperature correlated with airborne pollen concentrations.
- In situations where management of horses was unchanged, increases in barn temperature and enthalpy were associated with increased transpulmonary pressure, pulmonary resistance, and elastance values.
- This suggests that environmental conditions such as temperature and air enthalpy influence the severity of asthma in horses.
Conclusions
Based on the findings, the researchers concluded that by providing a colder environment, the severity of airway obstruction in horses experiencing uncontrolled severe asthma may be reduced. Also, as they found a correlation between environmental heat and pollen concentrations with increased severity, they suggest these factors should be considered in evaluations and when creating a response to therapy in clinical or research settings.
Cite This Article
APA
Bullone M, Murcia RY, Lavoie JP.
(2016).
Environmental heat and airborne pollen concentration are associated with increased asthma severity in horses.
Equine Vet J, 48(4), 479-484.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12559 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
- Department of Clinical Sciences of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Q, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Asthma / immunology
- Asthma / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Housing, Animal
- Male
- Pollen / immunology
- Seasons
- Severity of Illness Index
- Spores / immunology
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Basano I, Romolo A, Iamone G, Memoli G, Riccio B, Lavoie JP, Miniscalco B, Bullone M. Giant Multinucleated Cells Are Associated with Mastocytic Inflammatory Signature Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 20;12(9).
- Mainguy-Seers S, Diaw M, Lavoie JP. Lung Function Variation during the Estrus Cycle of Mares Affected by Severe Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 17;12(4).
- Adamič N, Prpar Mihevc S, Blagus R, Kramarič P, Krapež U, Majdič G, Viel L, Hoffman AM, Bienzle D, Vengust M. Effect of intrabronchial administration of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on severe equine asthma. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022 Jan 21;13(1):23.
- Borowska A, Wolska D, Niedzwiedz A, Borowicz H, Jaworski Z, Siemieniuch M, Szwaczkowski T. Some Genetic and Environmental Effects on Equine Asthma in Polish Konik Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 3;11(8).
- Kytikova OY, Novgorodtseva TP, Denisenko YK, Naumov DE, Gvozdenko TA, Perelman JM. Thermosensory Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channels and Asthma. Biomedicines 2021 Jul 14;9(7).
- Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP. Glucocorticoid treatment in horses with asthma: A narrative review. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Jul;35(4):2045-2057.
- Couetil L, Cardwell JM, Leguillette R, Mazan M, Richard E, Bienzle D, Bullone M, Gerber V, Ivester K, Lavoie JP, Martin J, Moran G, Niedźwiedź A, Pusterla N, Swiderski C. Equine Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:450.
- Brankston G, Greer AL, Marshall Q, Lang B, Moore K, Hodgins D, Hennessey JTG, Beeler-Marfisi J. Increased Weekly Mean PM(2.5), and NO(2) Are Associated With Increased Proportions of Lower Airway Granulocytes in Ontario Horses. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:185.
- Davis KU, Sheats MK. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology Characteristics and Seasonal Changes in a Herd of Pastured Teaching Horses. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:74.
- Kic P, Wohlmuthová M. The Indoor Environment at the University Equestrian Facility in the Autumn Semester: A Case Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 18;15(22).
- Symoens A, Westerfeld R, Vives BM, André V, Moulon L, Collomb M, Richard H, Juette T, Bédard C, Leclère M. Steamed hay and alfalfa pellets for the management of severe equine asthma. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):756-765.
- Mańkowska A, Witkowska D. The Most Common Environmental Risk Factors for Equine Asthma-A Narrative Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 14;14(14).
- van den Brom-Spierenburg AJ, Mureșan AN, Westermann CM. Antimicrobial Prescription Behavior in Equine Asthma Cases: An International Survey. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 30;14(3).
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