Equine airway inflammation in loose-housing management compared with pasture and conventional stabling.
Abstract: Icelandic horses are often stabled in loose-housing systems, and to date this type of stabling has not been evaluated with regard to its potential impact on respiratory health. The objective was to assess if differences in management systems (eg, conventional stable, loose housing and pasture only) affect the degree of airway inflammation, evaluated by cytology of tracheal aspirate (TA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. In total, 84 Icelandic horses (aged 8.1±4.6 years) housed under three different management systems (conventional stables [n=29], loose-house systems [n=29] and pasture [n=26]) were included. Endoscopy including mucus scoring, TA and BAL was performed. TA and BAL cytologies were evaluated by performing both the total cell count (TCC) and the differential cell count (DCC). Significantly higher BAL neutrophil DCC (P=0.032, P=0.040) and TA TCC (P=0.007, P=0.028) were found for each of the two groups of horses with indoor access (conventional stable and loose housing) compared with the pasture group. Regardless of stabling environment, weak positive correlations were found between TA and BAL TCC (r=0.37, P<0.001), between TA TCC and TA neutrophil ratio (r=0.33, P=0.002), as well as between TA and BAL neutrophil ratio (r=0.39, P=<0.001). A larger proportion of horses with indoor access showed evidence of subclinical airway inflammation characterised by an increase in TA and BAL neutrophil ratios.
© British Veterinary Association 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
Publication Date: 2019-03-09 PubMed ID: 30852556DOI: 10.1136/vr.104580Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the impact of different stabling systems, namely conventional stabling, loose housing, and pasture, on the respiratory health of Icelandic horses. The findings suggest that horses with indoor access (both conventional stables and loose housing) show more signs of airway inflammation than those living outdoors in pasture only.
Objective and Methodology
- The main objective of the study was to determine if the type of horse management system (conventional stables, loose housing, or pasture) affect the degree of airway inflammation in Icelandic horses.
- The study involved a total of 84 Icelandic horses of about 8.1±4.6 years of age, divided into three groups based on their housing system.
- The researchers conducted endoscopy and mucus scoring on each horse and collected Tracheal Aspirate (TA) and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) fluid for cytology.
- The cytologies of TA and BAL were evaluated through total cell count (TCC) and differential cell count (DCC), focusing especially on neutrophil cells, which are indicators of inflammation.
Results
- The results showed significantly higher BAL neutrophil DCC and TA TCC in horses housed indoors (both in conventional stabled and loose housed systems) compared to those in pasture only.
- Weak positive correlations were found between TA and BAL TCC, TA TCC and TA neutrophil ratio, as well as between TA and BAL neutrophil ratio, across all stabling environments.
- It was observed that a larger proportion of horses with indoor access showed subclinical evidence of airway inflammation, characterized by an increase in TA and BAL neutrophil ratios.
Conclusion
- The study suggests that the type of housing or stabling system can have significant effects on a horse’s respiratory health, with indoor systems leading to more airway inflammation than outdoor ones.
- This research emphasizes the importance of housing considerations in the management of horses, particularly in terms of mitigating respiratory health issues.
Cite This Article
APA
Hansen S, Klintoe K, Austevoll M, Baptiste KE, Fjeldborg J.
(2019).
Equine airway inflammation in loose-housing management compared with pasture and conventional stabling.
Vet Rec, 184(19), 590.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.104580 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Stationsparken, Denmark.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Copenhagen South, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Danish Medicines Agency, Copenhagen South, Denmark.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
- Denmark
- Female
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Housing, Animal
- Inflammation / immunology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Male
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / immunology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing interests: None declared.
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- 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).
- Hansen S, Hopster-Iversen C, Berg L, Fjeldborg J, Massey C, Piercy RJ, Carstensen H. Chronic idiopathic myopathy in Icelandic horses: A case series. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1341-1346.
- Rasmussen N, Karlsen P, Otten ND, Fjeldborg J, Hansen S. Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1-year period. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2391-2398.
- Bradshaw-Wiley E, Randle H. The Effect of Stabling Routines on Potential Behavioural Indicators of Affective State in Horses and Their Use in Assessing Quality of Life. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 15;13(6).
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