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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2014; 28(2); 618-623; doi: 10.1111/jvim.12279

Evaluation of coughing and nasal discharge as early indicators for an increased risk to develop equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO).

Abstract: It is often assumed that horses with mild respiratory clinical signs, such as mucous nasal discharge and occasional coughing, have an increased risk of developing recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Objective: Compared to horses without any clinical signs of respiratory disease, those with occasional coughing, mucous nasal discharge, or both have an increased risk of developing signs of RAO (frequent coughing, increased breathing effort, exercise intolerance, or a combination of these) as characterized by the Horse Owner Assessed Respiratory Signs Index (HOARSI 1-4). Methods: Two half-sibling families descending from 2 RAO-affected stallions (n = 65 and n = 47) and an independent replication population of unrelated horses (n = 88). Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, standardized information on occurrence and frequency of coughing, mucous nasal discharge, poor performance, and abnormal breathing effort-and these factors combined in the HOARSI-as well as management factors were collected at intervals of 1.3-5 years. Results: Compared to horses without clinical signs of respiratory disease (half-siblings 7%; unrelated horses 3%), those with mild respiratory signs developed clinical signs of RAO more frequently: half-siblings with mucous nasal discharge 35% (P < .001, OR: 7.0, sensitivity: 62%, specificity: 81%), with mucous nasal discharge and occasional coughing 43% (P < .001, OR: 9.9, sensitivity: 55%, specificity: 89%); unrelated horses with occasional coughing: 25% (P = .006, OR = 9.7, sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 76%). Conclusions: Occasional coughing and mucous nasal discharge might represent an increased risk of developing RAO.
Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2014-01-13 PubMed ID: 24417562PubMed Central: PMC4858023DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12279Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research shows that horses exhibiting mild respiratory clinical signs such as occasional coughing or mucous nasal discharge, are at an increased risk of developing serious respiratory conditions like Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO). The study was conducted on half-sibling families descending from RAO-affected stallions and an independent group of unrelated horses.

Study Methodology

  • The research was conducted as a retrospective cohort study, looking back at the health records of two half-sibling groups of horses (descended from two RAO-affected stallions) composed of 65 and 47 members respectively, as well as a separate, independent group of 88 unrelated horses.
  • Researchers collected data at intervals of 1.3 to 5 years on factors such as the occurrence and frequency of coughing, mucous nasal discharge, poor performance, abnormal breathing effort as well as composite signs indexed under the HOARSI (Horse Owner Assessed Respiratory Signs Index).
  • This was done to track how many of these horses later showed signs of RAO, primarily frequent coughing, increased breathing effort, and decreased tolerance for exercise, as well as combinations of these symptoms.

Study Findings

  • Compared to horses that showed no signs of respiratory disease (7% among half-siblings, 3% among unrelated horses), those with occasional coughing and mucous nasal discharge were more likely to develop RAO later.
  • 35% of half-sibling horses with mucous nasal discharge developed clinical signs of RAO. This constituted a 7-fold increased risk compared to those without any respiratory ailments.
  • Horses showing both nasal discharge and occasional coughing had an even higher risk, with 43% developing RAO which was nearly a 10-fold increase in risk.
  • In the unrelated horse group, those showing occasional coughing also had an increased risk of developing RAO, with a 25% incidence, which is over 9 times higher than those without any respiratory symptoms.

Conclusion

According to these results, occasional coughing and mucous nasal discharge could indeed be early indicators of an increased risk for developing RAO in horses. This knowledge could greatly help horse caretakers in early detection and prevention of this debilitating condition.

Cite This Article

APA
Bosshard S, Gerber V. (2014). Evaluation of coughing and nasal discharge as early indicators for an increased risk to develop equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). J Vet Intern Med, 28(2), 618-623. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12279

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
Pages: 618-623

Researcher Affiliations

Bosshard, S
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine, University of Berne and ALP-Haras, Berne, Switzerland.
Gerber, V

    MeSH Terms

    • Age Factors
    • Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
    • Airway Obstruction / etiology
    • Airway Obstruction / veterinary
    • Animals
    • Bodily Secretions / metabolism
    • Cough / complications
    • Cough / diagnosis
    • Cough / veterinary
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horses
    • Male
    • Nasal Mucosa / metabolism
    • Retrospective Studies
    • Risk Factors

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 12 times.
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