Responses of horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to inhalation challenges with mould antigens.
Abstract: Eight control and 8 asymptomatic COPD-affected horses were given, on separate occasions, inhalation challenges with extracts of Micropolyspora faeni, Aspergillus fumigatus and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris. All horses were also given nebulised phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) challenges and 'natural challenges' (NCs), i.e. exposure to hay and straw, as control challenges. Responses were assessed by clinical, pulmonary mechanics, arterial blood gas tensions, arterial blood pH and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytological examinations. PBS challenges had no effect on control or COPD-affected horses, while NC induced COPD only in the COPD-affected horses. Pulmonary disease, similar to naturally occurring COPD, was induced, only in the COPD-affected horses, by M. faeni and A. fumigatus challenges, thus implicating these organisms in the aetiology of equine COPD. The role of T. vulgaris in the aetiology of equine COPD could not, however, be determined because the T. vulgaris challenges, in addition to inducing pulmonary disease in 4 COPD-affected horses, induced pulmonary disease in 2 control horses which had been unaffected by NC. The absence of pulmonary disease in control horses after M. faeni, A. fumigatus and NC challenges suggests that equine COPD is a pulmonary hypersensitivity, rather than a non-specific toxic response.
Publication Date: 1993-07-01 PubMed ID: 8354208DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02960.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Allergies
- Aspergillus
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Immune Response
- Inflammation
- Inhalation
- Pathogenesis
- Pulmonary Health
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Medicine
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 investigates the role certain mould types play in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in horses. Findings suggest that Micropolyspora faeni and Aspergillus fumigatus moulds contribute to the development of COPD, while the contribution of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris is less clear.
Research Methodology
- The study involved two groups of eight horses – a control group and a group of horses already affected by COPD.
- All horses were subjected to separate inhalation challenges with extracts of three types of mould – Micropolyspora faeni, Aspergillus fumigatus and Thermoactinomyces vulgaris.
- Additionally, all the horses were ‘challenged’ with nebulised phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and a ‘natural challenge’ (NC), which included exposure to hay and straw, as control challenges.
- Responses were measured by clinical, pulmonary mechanics, arterial blood gas tensions, arterial blood pH and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytological examinations.
Results and Interpretation
- The study found no observable effect on either the control or the COPD-affected horses following the PBS challenges.
- The ‘natural challenges’ triggered COPD symptoms only in the horses that already had COPD.
- Pulmonary disease resembling naturally occurring COPD was induced only in the horses with existing COPD following the Micropolyspora faeni and Aspergillus fumigatus challenges.
- These findings suggest an association between these mould species and the development of equine COPD.
- The role of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris, however, couldn’t be confidently established. While this mould triggered a COPD-like response in four of the COPD-affected horses, it also caused respiratory disease in two of the previously unaffected control horses.
- The fact that the horses unaffected by COPD didn’t develop any COPD-like symptoms after the Micropolyspora faeni, Aspergillus fumigatus and NC challenges, indicates that equine COPD is a hypersensitive pulmonary response rather than a general toxic reaction.
Cite This Article
APA
McGorum BC, Dixon PM, Halliwell RE.
(1993).
Responses of horses affected with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to inhalation challenges with mould antigens.
Equine Vet J, 25(4), 261-267.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02960.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Veterinary Field Station, Roslin, Midlothian, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Inhalation
- Aerosols
- Animals
- Antigens, Fungal / administration & dosage
- Antigens, Fungal / immunology
- Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
- Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / pathology
- Cell Count / veterinary
- Epithelium / pathology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Lung / pathology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / etiology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / immunology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / physiopathology
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / veterinary
- Micromonosporaceae / immunology
- Nebulizers and Vaporizers / veterinary
- Respiratory Mechanics
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Lemonnier LC, Couroucé A, Cessans M, Petit L, Cardwell JM, Barbazanges P, Toquet M-, Richard EA. Detection of fungi in the airways of horses according to the sample site: a methodological study. Vet Res Commun 2023 Sep 13;.
- Frippiat T, Art T, Tosi I. Airway Hyperresponsiveness, but Not Bronchoalveolar Inflammatory Cytokines Profiles, Is Modified at the Subclinical Onset of Severe Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 1;13(15).
- Intemann S, Reckels B, Schubert D, Wolf P, Kamphues J, Visscher C. The Hygienic Status of Different Forage Types for Horses-A Retrospective Study on Influencing Factors and Associations with Anamnestic Reports. Vet Sci 2022 May 6;9(5).
- Mönki J, Saastamoinen M, Karikoski N, Norring M, Rajamäki M, Mykkänen A. Effects of Bedding Material on Equine Lower Airway Inflammation: A Comparison of Two Peat Beddings, Wood Pellet, and Straw Pellet. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:799645.
- Mönki J, Saastamoinen M, Karikoski N, Rajamäki M, Raekallio M, Junnila J, Särkijärvi S, Norring M, Valros A, Oranen Ben Fatma S, Mykkänen A. Effects of Bedding Material on Equine Lower Airway Inflammation: A Crossover Study Comparing Peat and Wood Shavings. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:656814.
- Davis KU, Sheats MK. The Role of Neutrophils in the Pathophysiology of Asthma in Humans and Horses. Inflammation 2021 Apr;44(2):450-465.
- Dauvillier J, Ter Woort F, van Erck-Westergren E. Fungi in respiratory samples of horses with inflammatory airway disease. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):968-975.
- Orard M, Hue E, Couroucé A, Bizon-Mercier C, Toquet MP, Moore-Colyer M, Couëtil L, Pronost S, Paillot R, Demoor M, Richard EA. The influence of hay steaming on clinical signs and airway immune response in severe asthmatic horses. BMC Vet Res 2018 Nov 15;14(1):345.
- Klier J, Geis S, Steuer J, Geh K, Reese S, Fuchs S, Mueller RS, Winter G, Gehlen H. A comparison of nanoparticullate CpG immunotherapy with and without allergens in spontaneously equine asthma-affected horses, an animal model. Immun Inflamm Dis 2018 Mar;6(1):81-96.
- Morán G, Folch H, Araya O, Burgos R, Barria M. Detection of reaginic antibodies against Faenia rectivirgula from the serum of horses affected with Recurrent Airway Obstruction by an in vitro bioassay. Vet Res Commun 2010 Dec;34(8):719-26.
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- Laan TT, Bull S, van Nieuwstadt RA, Fink-Gremmels J. The effect of aerosolized and intravenously administered clenbuterol and aerosolized fluticasone propionate on horses challenged with Aspergillus fumigatus antigen. Vet Res Commun 2006 Aug;30(6):623-35.
- Nardoni S, Mancianti F, Sgorbini M, Taccini F, Corazza M. Identification and seasonal distribution of airborne fungi in three horse stables in Italy. Mycopathologia 2005 Aug;160(1):29-34.
- Bouverat VMA, Pradervand N, Wichert BA, Greim E, Dolf GJ, Gerber V. Sensory Assessment of Hay Samples: Abnormal Odor Predicts Increased Dust Levels and Impurities Suggest Microbiological Contamination. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 14;15(18).
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