Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in the horse: results of a detailed clinical, post mortem and imaging study. I. Clinical profile of horses.
Abstract: Detailed physical and clinical examinations were performed on 26 Thoroughbred racehorses which were used subsequently in a series of studies to investigate the contribution of the pulmonary and bronchial arterial circulations to the pathophysiology of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). Twenty-five of the horses had been retired from race training in Hong Kong during the 1984-85 season, all but four raced that season; one horse had been retired the previous season. The average number of races for the group that season was 4.1 +/- 2 with an average distance of 1502 +/- 216 metres, mean racing speed 15.5 +/- 0.5 metres/sec. Time from last race to necropsy was 177 +/- 155 days, range 12 to 572 days. All but one horse had a known history of either EIPH or epistaxis. Time from last recorded incident of expistaxis (17 horses) to necropsy was 156 +/- 141 days, range 12 to 513 days, with a longer interval since last recorded endoscopic observation of EIPH. Focal abnormal lung sounds were detected in the dorsocaudal lungfields on auscultation during rebreathing in three horses and six had tracheobronchial cytology consistent with previous episodes of pulmonary haemorrhage (haemosiderophages). No other characteristics which might have allowed separation of this group of horses from other Thoroughbred horses recently in race training were identified.
Publication Date: 1987-09-01 PubMed ID: 3678179DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1987.tb02626.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research study conducted detailed physical and clinical check-ups on 26 Thoroughbred racehorses to understand how blood circulation impacts exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH). It was observed that all but one horse had been known to have EIPH or unexplained nose bleeding.
Overview of the Study and Subject Details
- The study examined 26 Thoroughbred racehorses that were primarily retired from race training in Hong Kong during the 1984-85 season. Among them, one horse had retired in the previous season and only four did not participate in races that season.
- The horses on an average had participated in approximately 4 races and covered an approximate distance of 1502 metres during that season. The average speed they maintained was around 15.5 metres/second.
- The time frame between their last race and post mortem examination was roughly 177 days, with the range being 12 to 572 days.
Key Observations
- Out of 26 horses, only one horse didn’t have a history of EIPH or unexplained nose bleeding (epistaxis). These conditions relate to respiratory health issues where the horses experience blood leakage from small vessels in their lungs during strenuous exercises.
- A little over half of the horses (17 to be exact) had experienced epistaxis. The time from the last recorded instance of epistaxis to their necropsy varied greatly, ranging from 12 to 513 days.
- Peculiar lung sounds were detected in three horses, hinting towards possible respiratory problems. For another six horses, the microscopic examination of their lung cells (tracheobronchial cytology) revealed signs of previous pulmonary haemorrhage episodes. This was evident by the presence of haemosiderophages, cells that have engulfed red blood cells.
- No other traits were identified that could help segregate this group of horses from others that have recently been in race training.
Significance
- This study gives important insights into the medical conditions affecting Thoroughbred racehorses, particularly EIPH. Analyzing the data can help better understand the factors contributing to EIPH and thereby inform preventive measures for racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
O'Callaghan MW, Pascoe JR, Tyler WS, Mason DK.
(1987).
Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in the horse: results of a detailed clinical, post mortem and imaging study. I. Clinical profile of horses.
Equine Vet J, 19(5), 384-388.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1987.tb02626.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Epistaxis / etiology
- Epistaxis / veterinary
- Hemorrhage / etiology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Lung Diseases / etiology
- Lung Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Physical Exertion
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Doucet MY, Viel L. Clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy findings in horses with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Can Vet J 2002 Mar;43(3):195-202.
- Johnstone IB, Viel L, Crane S, Whiting T. Hemostatic studies in racing standardbred horses with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Hemostatic parameters at rest and after moderate exercise. Can J Vet Res 1991 Apr;55(2):101-6.
- Donaldson LL. A review of the pathophysiology of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in the equine athlete. Vet Res Commun 1991;15(3):211-26.
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