Pulmonary function measurements immediately after exercise are correlated with neutrophil percentage in tracheal aspirates in horses with poor racing performance.

The researchers observed a link between post-exercise lung function measurements and the percentage of neutrophils in tracheal aspirates in horses that perform poorly in races.

Introduction

• The research article discusses the implications of Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD) seen frequently in racehorses and how this condition can lead to waste within the equine industry.
• The diagnosis of IAD has been traditionally carried out by measuring the percentage of neutrophils — a type of white blood cell — present in tracheal aspirates (TA), a sample collected from the windpipe of the horse.

Aim of the Research

• The objective of this study was to examine if there’s a correlation between the spirometric indices of lung function and the neutrophil percentage (N%) in the tracheal aspirates (TAs).
• Spirometry is a common method of testing lung function by measuring the volume of air that can be inhaled or exhaled.

Methodology

• The limitations to normal breathing patterns were assessed by analyzing the relationship between the relative times and relative respiratory gas flows — the amount of air a horse breathes in and out — during the inhalation (inspiration) and exhalation (expiration) phases in individual breaths, recorded after the horse is done with its exercise.

Results

• Based on the observations, horses that had higher N% reported having significantly lesser relative gas flows at the same relative times during both inspiration and expiration, which suggests a limitation in their breathing process.

Conclusion

• This study strengthens the correlation between N% in TA and a physiological basis for diagnosing IAD after the exercise.
• Using spirometric pulmonary function testing to examine individual breaths post-exercise could prove useful in evaluating lung function and the causes of lackluster exercise performance in horses.