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Inflammation and increased numbers of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract of horses within 6 to 12 hours of confinement with the head elevated.
Abstract: Confinement of horses with their heads elevated for periods up to 24 hours was used to evaluate the extent and the effects of bacterial contamination of the equine lower respiratory tract. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in bacterial numbers (up to 10(9) colony forming units/mL in transtracheal aspirate derived samples) occurred within 6 or 12 hours in most horses. Pasteurella/Actinobacillus spp and Streptococcus spp were most commonly isolated. Lowering of the head for 30 minutes every 6 hours to facilitate postural drainage did not prevent multiplication of organisms to levels equivalent to those achieved by horses where the head was elevated for 24 hours. When horses were released from confinement and heads were no longer maintained in an elevated position, clearance of accumulated secretions and bacteria occurred within 8 to 12 hours. Thus, confinement with the head elevated resulted in significant bacterial contamination and multiplication within the lower respiratory tract during a period often encountered in routine management procedures, such as transportation. The clearance of accumulated secretions occurred over a prolonged period after release from such confinement.
Publication Date: 1995-02-01 PubMed ID: 7779032DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1995.tb15328.xGoogle 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 study shows that keeping horses in confined spaces with their heads elevated can increase bacteria and inflammation in their lower respiratory tracts within 6 to 12 hours. This effect occurs with routine management procedures, such as transportation, and continued even when horses were given short breaks to lower their heads. However, the bacteria and secretions were cleared within 8 to 12 hours once the horses’ heads were returned to normal positions.
Research Purpose and Method
- The research aimed to determine how confining horses with elevated heads impacts their lower respiratory tracts. This is a common situation for horses during transportation or other management procedures.
- The researchers confined horses with their heads lifted for periods of up to 24 hours and closely monitored changes in bacterial numbers in the horses’ lower respiratory tracts.
Research Findings
- The research revealed a substantial increase in bacterial numbers (up to a billion colony forming units per millilitre in samples) in most horses as soon as 6 to 12 hours of confinement.
- The major types of bacteria isolated from these horses included Pasteurella/Actinobacillus spp and Streptococcus spp.
- Attempt to help horses by lowering their heads every 6 hours for 30 minutes, possibly to aid in drainage, didn’t prevent multiplication of bacteria. The bacteria grew to levels comparable to those seen in horses that kept their heads raised for an entire day.
Implications and Conclusions
- As soon as horses were released from confinement and allowed to hold their heads normally, the built-up secretions and bacteria in the lower respiratory tract cleared up within 8 to 12 hours.
- This suggests that keeping a horse’s head elevated during confinement can result in significant bacterial contamination and growth in the lower respiratory tract.
- These findings hold implications for the welfare and care of horses during transportation or other scenarios that may require prolonged confinement with an elevated head.
- The study supports the importance of letting confined horses lower their heads regularly and could inform best practices in horse management and care, especially in transport scenarios.
Cite This Article
APA
Raidal SL, Love DN, Bailey GD.
(1995).
Inflammation and increased numbers of bacteria in the lower respiratory tract of horses within 6 to 12 hours of confinement with the head elevated.
Aust Vet J, 72(2), 45-50.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1995.tb15328.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Sydney, New South Wales.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / growth & development
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Bacterial Infections / etiology
- Bacterial Infections / microbiology
- Bacterial Infections / veterinary
- Colony Count, Microbial
- Female
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Pleuropneumonia / etiology
- Pleuropneumonia / microbiology
- Pleuropneumonia / veterinary
- Posture
- Respiratory Tract Infections / etiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
- Respiratory Tract Infections / veterinary
- Restraint, Physical / adverse effects
- Restraint, Physical / veterinary
- Trachea / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Felici M, Nanni Costa L, Zappaterra M, Bozzo G, Di Pinto P, Minero M, Padalino B. Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Broken (Handled) Horses on Arrival at Italian Slaughterhouses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 12;12(22).
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- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Behaviour during transportation predicts stress response and lower airway contamination in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194272.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Hall E, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses. PLoS One 2016;11(9):e0162371.
- Padalino B, Hall E, Raidal S, Celi P, Knight P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Health Problems and Risk Factors Associated with Long Haul Transport of Horses in Australia. Animals (Basel) 2015 Dec 10;5(4):1296-310.
- Kusano K, Ishikawa Y, Seki K, Kusunose R. Characteristic of inflammatory airway disease in Japanese thoroughbred racehorses. J Equine Sci 2008;19(2):25-9.
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- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K. Survey of the approach to the diagnosis and management of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses by equine veterinarians. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1484970.
- Takahashi Y, Niwa H, Ebisuda Y, Mukai K, Yoshida T, Raidal S, Padalino B, Ohmura H. Increased freedom of head movement mitigates stress and bacterial load in the airways of horses during transport. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1477653.
- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
- Tavanaeimanesh H, Alinia Z, Sadeghian Chaleshtori S, Moosavian H, Mohebi Z, Daneshi M. The efficacy of N-acetylcysteine in decreasing airway inflammation and mucus accumulation in horses with 18 hours of head confinement. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Mar-Apr;38(2):1224-1231.
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