Physiological measurements and upper and lower respiratory tract evaluation in French Standardbred Trotters during a standardised exercise test on the treadmill.
Abstract: There are a variety of reasons for poor performance in racehorses. Exercise intolerance has often been associated with subclinical respiratory abnormalities, and diagnostic aids are therefore used to enhance clinical detection. Physiological variables can also be measured in order to evaluate the metabolic reponse to exercise. This study evaluated the relationship between physiological measurements and upper airway videoendoscopy during a standardised treadmill exercise test and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology in control horses (good racing performance, n = 14) and poor performers (n = 27). The poor performers were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 = both upper and lower respiratory airway abnormal findings (n = 10); Group 2 = lower respiratory airway abnormal findings (n = 17). Horses in Group 2 were divided into 3 categories: Group 2A = exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH ; n = 5); Group 2B = small airway inflammation (SAI +/- EIPH; n = 7) and Group 2C = other (n = 5). During exercise, the poor performers had significantly lower arterial PaO2 and higher HR and blood lactate concentrations compared to controls. Total nucleated cell count of BAL fluid collected from poor racing performers was significantly higher than in controls; also, epithelial cells and haemosiderophage percentage collected from poor racing performers were significantly higher than in controls. Eight horses with dorsal displacement of the soft palate also had cytological evidence of lower respiratory airway disease. The results of this study suggest that there is a significantly different metabolic response (HR, blood lactate, PaO2) to exercise in poor compared to good performers. As both upper and/or lower respiratory problems can be associated with poor racing performance, a detailed examination of the upper and lower respiratory tracts at rest, during and after exercise is advised.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405724DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05456.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Airway Disease
- Blood
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Diagnostic Technique
- Exercise
- Exercise Physiology
- Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage
- Hemorrhage
- Horse Racing
- Horses
- Lactate
- Metabolism
- Pathophysiology
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Standardbred Horses
- Treadmill Exercise
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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This research study investigates the correlation between physiological measurements, upper airway videoendoscopy, and bronchoalveolar lavage cytology in racehorses with differing performance levels. The findings suggest a significant variation in metabolic response to exercise in poor performers versus good ones, prompting a detailed examination of the horses’ upper and lower respiratory tracts during various stages.
Objective of the Study
- The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physiological measurements, upper airway videoendoscopy during a treadmill exercise test, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology in racehorses with varying performance levels.
Study Design and Groups
- The horses were divided into groups based on their performance (control or good performers> (n=14) and poor performers (n=27)).
- Poor performers were further split into two groups (Group 1 and Group 2) based on respiratory abnormalities.
- Group 1 consisted of horses with both upper and lower respiratory airway abnormalities (n=10), while Group 2 had only lower respiratory airway abnormalities (n=17).
- Group 2 was then further divided into three subgroups – Group 2A, Group 2B and Group 2C – based on reasons for lower respiratory issues such as exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), small airway inflammation (SAI +/- EIPH) or other reasons (n=5 for each subgroup).
Key Findings
- During exercise, the poor performers showed significantly lower arterial PaO2 and higher heart rates (HR) and blood lactate concentrations compared to the control group or good performers.
- The total nucleated cell count of BAL fluid collected from horses with poor racing performance was significantly higher than in control horses.
- Furthermore, epithelial cells and haemosiderophage percentage in the poor racers were significantly higher than in controls.
- Eight horses with dorsal displacement of the soft palate also had cytological evidence of lower respiratory airway disease.
Conclusions
- The results of the study indicate a considerable difference in metabolic response to exercise in poor performers versus good performers.
- The study suggests that underlying issues in both the upper and/or lower respiratory tract might be linked with poor racehorse performance.
- Therefore, the research recommends a detailed examination of the horses’ upper and lower respiratory tracts at different stages – at rest, during exercise, and post-exercise for improved understanding and management.
Cite This Article
APA
Couroucé-Malblanc A, Pronost S, Fortier G, Corde R, Rossignol F.
(2002).
Physiological measurements and upper and lower respiratory tract evaluation in French Standardbred Trotters during a standardised exercise test on the treadmill.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 402-407.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05456.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pégase-Mayenne, Medicine du Sport, CH de Laval, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Hemorrhage / diagnosis
- Hemorrhage / physiopathology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Lactates / blood
- Male
- Partial Pressure
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / physiopathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Thoracoscopy / veterinary
- Video Recording
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Cooper BL, Hobbs KJ, Bayless R, Stinson-Miller A, Gruber E, Hepworth-Warren K, Lavoie JP, Sheats MK. A Portable Fluorometer Detects Significantly Elevated Cell-Free DNA in Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Horses with Severe Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 3;15(23).
- Röschmann J, Naef J, Doras C, Gerber V. Respiratory Rate Recovery After Submaximal Lunging Exercise Is Delayed in Asthmatic Horses with Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation. Animals (Basel) 2025 Mar 2;15(5).
- Meiseberg LK, Delarocque J, de Buhr N, Ohnesorge B. Clinical variability of equine asthma phenotypes and analysis of diagnostic steps in phenotype differentiation. Acta Vet Scand 2024 Sep 18;66(1):51.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Evaluation of fitness parameters in relation to racing results in 245 Standardbred trotter horses submitted for poor performance examination: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2023;18(10):e0293202.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Medical causes of poor performance and their associations with fitness in Standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1514-1527.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Ferrucci F. Impact of Lower Airway Inflammation on Fitness Parameters in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 21;12(22).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stancari G, Collavo F, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Upper and Lower Airways Evaluation and Its Relationship with Dynamic Upper Airway Obstruction in Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 17;12(12).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Alberti E, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and Fitness Parameters Measured by Incremental Treadmill Test in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 12;12(4).
- Bond SL, Greco-Otto P, MacLeod J, Galezowski A, Bayly W, Léguillette R. Efficacy of dexamethasone, salbutamol, and reduced respirable particulate concentration on aerobic capacity in horses with smoke-induced mild asthma. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):979-985.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
- Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):743-58.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Zimmerman NJ. Investigating the link between particulate exposure and airway inflammation in the horse. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Nov-Dec;28(6):1653-65.
- Fraipont A, Van Erck E, Ramery E, Fortier G, Lekeux P, Art T. Assessing fitness in endurance horses. Can Vet J 2012 Mar;53(3):311-4.
- Perez-Moreno CI, Couëtil LL, Pratt SM, Ochoa-Acuña HG, Raskin RE, Russell MA. Effect of furosemide and furosemide-carbazochrome combination on exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in Standardbred racehorses. Can Vet J 2009 Aug;50(8):821-7.
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