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Towards an understanding of equine pleuropneumonia: factors relevant for control.
Abstract: To review relevant literature on factors associated with the development of equine pleuropneumonia. Methods: A review of the literature using a range of databases including Current Contents, Medline, ChemAbstracts, Biological Abstracts and CAB and a comprehensive search strategy which involved use of keywords, author and subject category searches. Additional sources included review of articles cited by key accumulated references. Results: Since the early years of this century, many of the "gaps" in our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease have been filled. We now know that equine pleuropneumonia results from contamination of the lower respiratory tract with bacteria similar to the normal oropharyngeal microbiota of the horse and that transportation of any mode, especially over long distances (and consequently with no or short rest periods), is the single most important predisposing factor for this disease. This is associated with restraint of horses such that they are unable to lower their heads, which leads to increased opportunity for lower respiratory tract contamination and a reduced opportunity for clearance. Strenuous exercise also results in lower respiratory tract contamination and exercise subsequent to transportation exerts additive detrimental effects on the defenses of the lower respiratory tract. Conclusions: While modern veterinary medicine and surgery have significantly reduced the death rate from pleuropneumonia, horses that develop the disease have a high probability of not returning to their prior use. This underscores the importance of developing the most effective strategies for its prevention.
Publication Date: 2000-07-25 PubMed ID: 10904819DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2000.tb11788.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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
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.
This research focuses on understanding equine pleuropneumonia, a common, severe pneumonia in horses, and the factors that may lead to its development. The study helps uncover the relationship between the disease and various circumstances like horse transportation, inability to lower their heads, and strenuous exercise.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted an extensive literature review to gather relevant information related to equine pleuropneumonia.
- They searched through multiple databases including Current Contents, Medline, ChemAbstracts, Biological Abstracts and CAB.
- They used a comprehensive strategy leveraging keywords, author names, and subject categories to make their search more specific and directed.
- They also went through articles cited by key accumulated references for enhanced insights.
Findings
- Equine pleuropneumonia is caused by contamination of the horse’s lower respiratory tract with bacteria, similar to the bacteria in the horse’s normal oral and throat environment.
- Transportation, irrespective of the mode, particularly over long-distances and with limited or no rest, is the most significant factor increasing the risk of this disease. This situation links to horses’ inability to lower their heads during transportation, which subsequently restricts respiratory clearance and increases contamination risk.
- Strenuous exercise can also cause contamination in the lower respiratory tract. Moreover, exercising after transportation further worsens the defenses of the lower respiratory tract.
Conclusion
- Modern veterinary medicine and surgical interventions have decreased the mortality rate from pleuropneumonia.
- However, horses that develop the disease have a high chance of not returning to their previous state of use, signifying the dire consequences of this disease.
- This study emphasizes the need for developing effective preventive strategies against the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Racklyeft DJ, Raidal S, Love DN.
(2000).
Towards an understanding of equine pleuropneumonia: factors relevant for control.
Aust Vet J, 78(5), 334-338.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2000.tb11788.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Satur Veterinary Clinic, New South Wales.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Pleuropneumonia / etiology
- Pleuropneumonia / prevention & control
- Pleuropneumonia / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Migliorisi A, Barger A, Austin S, Foreman JH, Wilkins P. Hyponatremia in horses with septic pneumopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Sep;36(5):1820-1826.
- Venturini C, Bowring B, Partridge SR, Ben Zakour NL, Fajardo-Lubian A, Lopez Ayala A, Qin J, Totsika M, van Galen G, Norris J, Iredell J. Co-Occurrence of Multidrug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Pathogenic Clones of Human Relevance in an Equine Pneumonia Case. Microbiol Spectr 2022 Jun 29;10(3):e0215821.
- Sim JJ, Lau SF, Omar S, Watanabe M, Aslam MW. A Retrospective Study on Bacteriology, Clinicopathologic and Radiographic Features in 28 Cats Diagnosed with Pyothorax. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 3;11(8).
- Miller AB, Harris PA, Barker VD, Adams AA. Short-term transport stress and supplementation alter immune function in aged horses. PLoS One 2021;16(8):e0254139.
- Maeda Y, Oikawa MA. Patterns of Rectal Temperature and Shipping Fever Incidence in Horses Transported Over Long-Distances. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:27.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Behaviour during transportation predicts stress response and lower airway contamination in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0194272.
- Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
- Padalino B, Hall E, Raidal S, Celi P, Knight P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. Health Problems and Risk Factors Associated with Long Haul Transport of Horses in Australia. Animals (Basel) 2015 Dec 10;5(4):1296-310.
- Holley L, Creasey HN, Bedenice D, Reed S, Romualdo da Silva DR, Trautwein V, Mazan M, Widmer G. Nebulization of 2% lidocaine has no detectable impact on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0316079.
- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
- Barrs VR, Allan GS, Martin P, Beatty JA, Malik R. Feline pyothorax: a retrospective study of 27 cases in Australia. J Feline Med Surg 2005 Aug;7(4):211-22.
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