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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2018; 32(2); 839-845; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15066

Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Abstract: Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) refers to bleeding from the lungs in association with strenuous exercise. It has been documented in race horses but little information exists on EIPH in barrel racing horses. Objective: Our goals were to evaluate the presence of EIPH in barrel racing horses and estimate its prevalence in the Pacific Northwest. Methods: 149 barrel racing horses enrolled at events in WA (11), ID (3), and MT (33). Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Data collected included signalment, history of illness, respiratory disease, race division, and pre-race medications. Endoscopy was performed and tracheobronchoscopic (TBE) EIPH score was assigned based on quantity of blood in the trachea (0 = no blood to 4 = abundance of blood within the trachea). After TBE, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Erythrocyte (red blood cell, RBC) counts were obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Statistical analysis included linear and logistic regression, Fisher's exact t test, and calculation of correlation coefficient. Significance was set at P < .05. Results: The prevalence of EIPH based on TBE EIPH score was 54%. When based on BALF RBC count >1,000 cells, EIPH prevalence was 66%. Race time did not significantly affect the presence of EIPH. A significant (P < .0001) positive linear relationship between the TBE and BAL erythrocyte count was identified, but its strength was poor (r2  = .15). Conclusions: EIPH occurs in over 50% of barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest. Precise determination of the impact of EIPH on health of barrel racers requires further study.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-20 PubMed ID: 29460489PubMed Central: PMC5866954DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15066Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study

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.

This article explores the extent of Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) – a condition involving bleeding from the lungs as a result of strenuous exercise – in barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The research reveals that more than half of barrel racing horses in this region experience this phenomenon.

Research Objective

  • The aim of this research was to look for the presence and estimate the prevalence of EIPH in barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region. This was due to a lack of sufficient data on EIPH occurrence in this particular horse racing format, with most previous studies having focused on standard horse races.

Methodology

  • The researchers carried out an observational cross-sectional study involving 149 barrel racing horses from events in Washington, Idaho, and Montana.
  • Data on the horses’ health history, respiratory diseases, race division and medications taken before races were collected. This included performing an endoscopy to check the quantity of blood in the trachea, from which a tracheobronchoscopic (TBE) EIPH score was assigned.
  • The study also conducted a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) which involved collecting a sample of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the lungs to count red blood cell (RBC) count.
  • Various statistical methods, such as linear and logistic regression, Fisher’s exact t test, and calculation of correlation coefficient, were used to analyze the collected data. Statistical significance was set at P < .05.

Results

  • The results showed a 54% prevalence of EIPH based on TBE EIPH score measurement and 66% when based on BALF RBC count that is greater than 1,000 cells.
  • The research found that the time taken to complete the race did not significantly affect the presence of EIPH.
  • A significant positive linear relationship between the TBE and BAL erythrocyte count was discovered although the strength of this relationship was weak (r  = .15).

Conclusions

  • The study shows that EIPH affects more than 50% of barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region.
  • To understand the exact impact of EIPH on the health of barrel racing horses, the authors suggest additional research is needed.

Cite This Article

APA
Gold JR, Knowles DP, Coffey T, Bayly WM. (2018). Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. J Vet Intern Med, 32(2), 839-845. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15066

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Pages: 839-845

Researcher Affiliations

Gold, Jenifer R
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Knowles, Donald P
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
  • Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Services, USDA, Pullman, Washington.
Coffey, Todd
  • Center for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
Bayly, Warwick M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoscopy / veterinary
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Erythrocytes
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Lung Diseases / etiology
  • Lung Diseases / veterinary
  • Male
  • Northwestern United States
  • Physical Exertion

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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