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The prevalence of laryngeal disease in a large population of competition draft horses.
Abstract: (1) To determine the effect of age, height, weight, breed, sex, and specific use on the prevalence of idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) in a population of draft performance horses; (2) to determine the association between tracheal mucus and laryngeal dysfunction, and the prevalence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in a population of draft performance horses. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Draft horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Methods: Endoscopic examinations were performed on horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show. Signalment, height, and weight were obtained from the owners and trainers. Results: Belgian, Percheron, and Clydesdale horses (n=183) were studied. Prevalence of ILH was 35%. Horse height was significantly associated with the risk of ILH in Belgian and Percheron horses but not Clydesdales. There was a significantly different prevalence of ILH among the breeds such that 42% Belgians, 31% Percherons, and 17% Clydesdales were affected. Laryngeal disease was a risk factor for increased tracheal mucus. None of the horses had acute evidence of EIPH. Conclusions: The prevalence of ILH in draft horses has increased or is higher in competition horses compared with previously studied groups. Tracheal and/or pulmonary inflammation may be more common in draft horses with ILH based on our findings that horses with ILH have more tracheal mucus than horses with normal laryngeal function. Conclusions: Selection pressure for large, taller, longer-necked horses may be responsible for a seemingly increased incidence of ILH in competitive draft horses.
Publication Date: 2006-08-17 PubMed ID: 16911159DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2006.00192.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article investigated the prevalence of laryngeal disease in performance draft horses and found that certain breeds and taller horses are more likely to be affected by idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH). The research also found a link between laryngeal disease and increased tracheal mucus, but no immediate signs of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).
Objective and Method
- The research had two primary objectives: firstly, to discern the influence of multiple factors (including age, height, weight, breed, sex, and specific use) on the prevalence of idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (ILH) in draft horses used for performance; secondly, to determine any correlation between tracheal mucus and laryngeal dysfunction, and the incidence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in the same population.
- The researchers carried out endoscopic examinations on draft horses competing at the 2005 Michigan Great Lakes Draft Horse Show, collecting data such as horse-specific details, height, and weight from their owners and trainers.
Findings
- Three breeds were studied: Belgian, Percheron, and Clydesdale horses (n=183). The study found a 35% prevalence of ILH among these animals.
- A significant correlation was established between horse height and the risk of developing ILH in Belgian and Percheron horses, but no such correlation was observed in Clydesdales.
- The prevalence of ILH varied among the breeds. It was discovered in 42% of Belgians, 31% of Percherons, and 17% of Clydesdales.
- Laryngeal disease was identified as a risk factor for increased tracheal mucus. However, none of the horses showed acute signs of EIPH.
Conclusions
- The results suggested an increased prevalence of ILH in performance draft horses compared to those previously studied.
- Horses with ILH demonstrated more tracheal mucus than those with normal laryngeal function, indicating higher rates of tracheal and/or pulmonary inflammation in draft horses suffering from this condition.
- The study also proposed that the selection pressure for larger, taller, and longer-necked horses could be contributing to the apparent rise in ILH incidence among competitive draft horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Brakenhoff JE, Holcombe SJ, Hauptman JG, Smith HK, Nickels FA, Caron JP.
(2006).
The prevalence of laryngeal disease in a large population of competition draft horses.
Vet Surg, 35(6), 579-583.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2006.00192.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, USA. brakenho@cvm.msu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Endoscopy, Digestive System / methods
- Endoscopy, Digestive System / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / epidemiology
- Inflammation / genetics
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Laryngeal Diseases / epidemiology
- Laryngeal Diseases / genetics
- Laryngeal Diseases / pathology
- Laryngeal Diseases / veterinary
- Male
- Michigan
- Mucus / metabolism
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Selection, Genetic
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Lean NE, Bertin FR, Ahern BJ. Influence of unilateral and bilateral vocal cordectomy on airflow across cadaveric equine larynges at different Rakestraw grades of arytenoid abduction. Vet Surg 2022 Aug;51(6):974-981.
- Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
- Caspers MK, Bell CD, Tatarniuk DM. Transendoscopic Ventriculocordectomy Using Monopolar Electrosurgical Instrumentation for Conjunctive Treatment of Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Horses: 24 Cases (2017-2019). Front Vet Sci 2021;8:628410.
- Raudsepp T, Finno CJ, Bellone RR, Petersen JL. Ten years of the horse reference genome: insights into equine biology, domestication and population dynamics in the post-genome era. Anim Genet 2019 Dec;50(6):569-597.
- Draper ACE, Piercy RJ. Pathological classification of equine recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Jul;32(4):1397-1409.
- Greco-Otto P, Massie S, Shields E, Roy MF, Pajor E, Léguillette R. High intensity, short duration pulling in heavy horses: physiological effects of competition and rapid weight change. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 7;13(1):317.
- Sasaki N, Morita Y, Moriyama T, Yamada H. Evaluation of the cranial cruciate ligament repair system(®) in surgery for laryngeal hemiplegia in heavy draft horses. J Equine Sci 2009;20(2):19-22.
- Boyko AR, Brooks SA, Behan-Braman A, Castelhano M, Corey E, Oliveira KC, Swinburne JE, Todhunter RJ, Zhang Z, Ainsworth DM, Robinson NE. Genomic analysis establishes correlation between growth and laryngeal neuropathy in Thoroughbreds. BMC Genomics 2014 Apr 3;15:259.
- Collins N, Milne E, Hahn C, Dixon P. Correlation of the Havemeyer endoscopic laryngeal grading system with histopathological changes in equine Cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscles. Ir Vet J 2009 May 1;62(5):334-8.
- Dupuis MC, Zhang Z, Druet T, Denoix JM, Charlier C, Lekeux P, Georges M. Results of a haplotype-based GWAS for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in the horse. Mamm Genome 2011 Oct;22(9-10):613-20.
- Alexander MJ, Barkmeier-Kraemer JM, Vande Geest JP. Biomechanical properties of recurrent laryngeal nerve in the piglet. Ann Biomed Eng 2010 Aug;38(8):2553-62.
- Al Shehab G, Naji R, Alali F, Alali A, Allowaim A, Almohammed A, Aljasim D, Alkhalifah A, Alhammad YMA, Marzok M, Mohamad ZA, Almuhanna AH. Laryngoscopic evaluation of arytenoid movements in pure Arabian horses. Open Vet J 2025 Jun;15(6):2875-2881.
- Kollech HG, Chao MR, Stark AC, German RZ, Paniello RC, Christensen MB, Barkmeier-Kraemer JM, Vande Geest JP. Extracellular matrix deformations of the porcine recurrent laryngeal nerve in response to hydrostatic pressure. Acta Biomater 2022 Nov;153:364-373.
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