Prevalence of Radiographic Signs of Osteoarthritis in Lusitano Purebred Horses.
Abstract: Radiographic prevalence and correlation of radiographic findings has not been performed in Lusitano Purebred horses. The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the prevalence of primary osteoarthritis radiographic findings in Lusitano Purebred horses; (2) to assess correlations between radiographic findings in different joints of the same limb and different limbs; and (3) elucidate the effect of age in the radiographic findings. A radiographic protocol of the stifle, tarsi, fetlocks and distal limbs was done in 98 Lusitanos and the classification of the radiographs was performed using a 0-4 scale developed and applied blindly by three veterinarians. The distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, tarsometatarsal, distal intertarsal, proximal intertarsal/, tibiotarsal and femorotibial-patellar joints were evaluated. Most joints presented no abnormal findings or minor abnormal radiographic findings (82.86% grade ≤1). The most affected joint was tarsometatarsal and more severe lesions were found in tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal. Femorotibial-patellar radiographic changes were rare (2.13%). A strong/moderate correlation was found between contralateral joints with exception hindlimb fetlocks. A moderate correlation was found between fore and hindlimbs for distal limb joints. When analyzing ipsilateral as well as diagonal distal limbs, a strong/moderate correlation was also found. The total score progressed in 0.2 score points per each year of age, revealing that age can be a statistically significant predictor for radiographic changes. Overall, Lusitano horses presented a low prevalence of severe radiographic sings of primary osteoarthritis. Findings in contralateral joints tend to be correlated.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-07-23 PubMed ID: 33077091DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103196Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This article discusses a study undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of primary osteoarthritis in Lusitano horses, assess any correlations between the conditions of different limbs and joints on the same limb, and examine the effect of age on the radiographic findings.
Study Design and Methodology
- The study involved a radiographic examination of the stifle, tarsi, fetlocks, and distal limbs of 98 Lusitano horses. The scientists then classified the radiographs using a 0-4 scale that three veterinarians developed and applied blindly.
- They evaluated various joints, including the distal interphalangeal, proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal, tarsometatarsal, distal intertarsal, proximal intertarsal, tibiotarsal, and femorotibial-patellar joints.
Key Findings
- They found that most of the evaluated joints showed no abnormal findings or only minor abnormal radiographic findings (with 82.86% having a grade of 1 or less).
- The most affected joint was the tarsometatarsal, and the most severe lesions were observed in the tarsometatarsal and distal intertarsal.
- There were rare cases of radiographic changes in the femorotibial-patellar (only 2.13%).
- The researchers observed strong to moderate correlation between contralateral joints, except for hindlimb fetlocks. They also found a moderate correlation between the fore and hind limbs for distal limb joints. This applied for both ipsilateral and diagonal distal limbs.
The Influence of Age
- The study revealed that the total score progressed by 0.2 score points for each year of age, indicating that age can be a statistically significant predictor for radiographic changes. However, it was also concluded that Lusitano horses generally have a low prevalence of severe radiographic signs of primary osteoarthritis.
Insights and Implications
- The findings contribute new insights into the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Lusitano horses and provide evidence that there are correlations in the osteoarthritis conditions of contralateral joints.
- These results may be useful to both horse breeders and veterinarians for the management and treatment of osteoarthritis in Lusitano horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Ramos S, Pinto A, Cardoso M, Alexandre N, Bettencourt E, Monteiro S, Gama LT.
(2020).
Prevalence of Radiographic Signs of Osteoarthritis in Lusitano Purebred Horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 94, 103196.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103196 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal. Electronic address: ascramos@uliege.be.
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Veterinary Medicine Department, MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
- Veterinary Medicine Faculty, CIISA - Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Joints
- Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Stifle
- Vocalization, Animal
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