Scrutiny of antimicrobial use in racing horses with allergic small airway inflammatory disease.
Abstract: Antimicrobials had been administered to 38/55 (69%) racing standardbred and Thoroughbred horses with poor performance, subsequently diagnosed with nonseptic inflammatory airway disease. Horses with cough were more commonly treated (P = 0.02). In almost all cases, no clinical signs suggested that bacterial infection was present. Inappropriate use of antimicrobials was common. Des antimicrobiens ont été administrés à 38/55 (69 %) chevaux standardbreds et chevaux pursang affichant une piètre performance, diagnostiqués par la suite avec une maladie inflammatoire aseptique des voies respiratoires. Les chevaux présentant une toux étaient plus fréquemment traités ( = 0,02). Dans presque tous les cas, aucun signe clinique ne suggérait la présence d’une infection bactérienne. L’utilisation inappropriée des antimicrobiens était fréquente.
Publication Date: 2005-07-16 PubMed ID: 16018565PubMed Central: PMC1090451
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines the use of antimicrobials in sport horses suffering from small airway inflammatory disease, and finds that a majority are given these drugs unnecessarily, even when there’s no indication of a bacterial infection.
Study Overview
- The research was conducted on racing standardbred and Thoroughbred horses that were performing poorly and were subsequently diagnosed with nonseptic inflammatory airway disease.
- Of the 55 horses examined, 38 (69%) had been treated with antimicrobials. These drugs were found to be administered to horses regardless of whether signs of a bacterial infection were present.
- It was noted that horses with a cough were more likely to be treated with these medications (P = 0.02).
- The study concludes with a criticism of the frequent and inappropriate use of antimicrobials in cases where there’s no substantial evidence of a bacterial infection.
Implications of the Findings
- The research reveals a common and concerning practice in the equine performance industry—unnecessary use of antimicrobials. Such misuse may cause harmful effects such as antimicrobial resistance, which is a significant global health concern.
- The study also underscores the need for better diagnostic tools to determine whether a bacterial infection is present before horses are treated with antimicrobials. This would help prevent the gratuitous use of these medications and the potential negative effects that could occur as a result.
Value of the Research
- This study is important because it brings to light an issue with how racehorses with inflammatory airway disease are being treated. It emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and stricter controls over the use of antimicrobials.
- By driving conversation on this topic, the research aims to encourage the establishment of better standards for the use of antimicrobials in horses and, potentially, more generally in veterinary practice.
- It additionally provides a point of reference for future investigations to further delve into the issue and potentially propose specific strategies to counter it.
Cite This Article
APA
Weese JS, Sabino C.
(2005).
Scrutiny of antimicrobial use in racing horses with allergic small airway inflammatory disease.
Can Vet J, 46(5), 438-439.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
- Doping in Sports / statistics & numerical data
- Horse Diseases / chemically induced
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ontario / epidemiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / chemically induced
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology
- Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / veterinary
- Records / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Running
References
This article includes 7 references
- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. CVMA Guidelines on the Prudent Use of Antimicrobial Drugs in Animals. [adopted July 1999, updated December 1999].
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Judicious use of antimicrobials. Schaumburg, Illinois: American Veterinary Medical Association, 2003.
- Nyquist AC, Gonzales R, Steiner JF, Sande MA. Antibiotic prescribing for children with colds, upper respiratory tract infections, and bronchitis.. JAMA 1998 Mar 18;279(11):875-7.
- Rutschmann OT, Domino ME. Antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections in ambulatory practice in the United States, 1997-1999: does physician specialty matter?. J Am Board Fam Pract 2004 May-Jun;17(3):196-200.
- Hoffman AM. Inflammatory airway diseases: definitions and diagnosis in the performance horse. Current Therapy in Equine Medicine 5th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: WB Saunders, 2003:412–417.
- Mazan M, Hoffman AM. Inflammatory airway disease: effect of athletic discipline. Workshop on Inflammatory Airway Disease: Defining the Syndrome Newmarket, UK: R & W Publ, 2002:9–12.
- Wilson WD, Lofstedt J. Alterations in respiratory function. Large Animal Internal Medicine 2nd ed. Toronto: Mosby, 1996:46–99.
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Cormier AC, Chalmers G, Zamudio R, Mulvey MR, Mather AE, Boerlin P. Diversity of blaCTX-M-1-carrying plasmids recovered from Escherichia coli isolated from Canadian domestic animals. PLoS One 2022;17(3):e0264439.
- Shnaiderman-Torban A, Navon-Venezia S, Paitan Y, Archer H, Abu Ahmad W, Bonder D, Hanael E, Nissan I, Zizelski Valenci G, Weese SJ, Steinman A. Extended spectrum β lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae shedding by race horses in Ontario, Canada. BMC Vet Res 2020 Dec 9;16(1):479.
- Toombs-Ruane LJ, Riley CB, Kendall AT, Bolwell CF, Benschop J, Rosanowski SM. Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Aerobic Isolates from Respiratory Samples of Young New Zealand Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1700-6.
- Bullone M, Bellato A, Robino P, Nebbia P, Morello S, Marchis D, Tarducci A, Ru G. Prevalence and risk factors associated with nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in horses and their caregivers. Vet Res 2024 Sep 9;55(1):108.
- van den Brom-Spierenburg AJ, Mureșan AN, Westermann CM. Antimicrobial Prescription Behavior in Equine Asthma Cases: An International Survey. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 30;14(3).
- Guardabassi L, Apley M, Olsen JE, Toutain PL, Weese S. Optimization of Antimicrobial Treatment to Minimize Resistance Selection. Microbiol Spectr 2018 May;6(3).
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