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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence ...
Frontiers in veterinary science2019; 6; 27; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00027

Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence in Horses Transported Over Long-Distances.

Abstract: Shipping Fever is a transport associated syndrome seen in equids and bovines transported during long distances. The microbial profile and clinical signs vary between species, and in horses it is characterized by pharyngeal commensal bacteria and aerosolized particulate matter invading the lower airway due to compromised mucocillary clearance mechanisms during transports. This leads to pyrexia, pulmonary parenchymal disease, inappetence, and in severe cases pleuropneumonia. It has been shown that the incidence of transport-related pyrexia in horses increases with travel time and distance, however, this incidence rate has been expressed as the cumulative number of horses showing pyrexia with the length of travel time during road transport (cumulative percentage), which does not accurately reflect the actual temperature fluctuations and their patterns in relation to shipping fever. This study aims to demonstrate the individual fluctuations of body temperature variations during transport, particularly febrile changes. 53 Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred horses aged 23-30 months were transported by road over different distances and durations (36-61 h; 1,492-2,921 km) in 3 investigations carried out in the spring and mid-summer in the northern hemisphere. The results showed that the incidence of fever (characterized by rectal temperature >38.6°C) was highest from 20 to 49 h after the start of transport. Clinical signs of shipping fever was observed in 25 of the 53 horses (47.2%), of which 10 horses (18.9%) exhibited fever at the end of transportation and 15 horses (28.3%) did not. This showed that horses that develop shipping fever do not necessarily present with fever at the end of transportation. Necropsy of 20 horses performed immediately after transportation suggested that transport induced pneumonia, contributed to the onset of pyrexia. This finding supports the suggestion that measuring body temperature upon arrival to determine the presence or absence of shipping fever could result in missed diagnoses for some horses with subclinical pneumonia, and that taking multiple temperature measurements at intervals from 20 h of transportation is a simple method for not missing horses with subclinical pneumonia.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-14 PubMed ID: 30838220PubMed Central: PMC6383045DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00027Google 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 examines the fluctuating body temperatures in horses during long-distance transport and its correlation with the Shipping Fever, a prevalent syndrome in such situations. It suggests the necessity of more regular temperature checks to aid in the timely recognition and treatment of subclinical pneumonia in horses, which could otherwise be missed.

Introduction

  • The research study focuses on a transport-induced syndrome known as Shipping Fever seen in horses and bovines.
  • The clinical signs, as well as the microbial profiles, differ between species. In horses, it is typically characterized by the invasion of lower airways by pharyngeal commensal bacteria and aerosolized particulate matter.
  • This invasion is due to compromised mechanisms of mucociliary clearance during transport, which subsequently causes fever, pulmonary parenchymal disease, lessened appetite, and in serious cases, pleuropneumonia.
  • Prior research has shown an increase in transport-related fever cases in accordance with the duration and distance of travel. However, the existing method of calculating this incidence rate does not truly reflect the actual fluctuations and patterns of temperature relating to the Shipping Fever.

Methodology

  • The study aimed to document each horse’s body temperature fluctuations, notably febrile changes during transport
  • A total of 53 horses (Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arab) aged between 23-30 months were involved in the study
  • They were transported by road covering various distances (1,492-2,921 km) and durations (36-61 h) in three investigations carried out in mid-summer and spring in the northern hemisphere.

Results and Findings

  • The highest incidence of fever (verified by a rectal temperature above 38.6 °C) was witnessed between 20 to 49 hours from the start of transport
  • Out of 53 horses, 25 (47.2%) showed clinical signs of the Shipping Fever. However, only 10 (18.9%) of these horses showed signs of fever at the end of transportation.
  • 15 horses (28.3%) did not present with fever at the end of their journey, indicating that those manifesting the Shipping Fever do not necessarily display fever at the conclusion of transportation.
  • By performing necropsy on 20 horses immediately after transport, it was found that pneumonia induced by the transport process contributed to the onset of fever.

Implications of Findings

  • The results suggest that diagnosing the Shipping Fever by merely checking body temperature upon arrival could lead to missed diagnoses, particularly of horses with subclinical pneumonia.
  • The researchers recommended multiple temperature checks at intervals, particularly from 20 hours into the transportation, to avoid overlooking horses with subclinical pneumonia.

Cite This Article

APA
Maeda Y, Oikawa MA. (2019). Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence in Horses Transported Over Long-Distances. Front Vet Sci, 6, 27. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00027

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 6
Pages: 27
PII: 27

Researcher Affiliations

Maeda, Yousuke
  • Laboratory of Clinical Veterinary Medicine for Large Animal, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Japan.
Oikawa, Masa-Aki
  • Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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