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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2004; 45(7); 594-601;

Treatment of inflammatory airway disease in young standardbreds with interferon alpha.

Abstract: The effect of oral treatment with natural or recombinant human interferon alpha (HIA) on inflammatory airway disease in young standardbreds was assessed in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. A total of 34 horses with nasal discharge, excess mucus in the trachea, and a persistent cough of at least 2 weeks' duration that interfered with training completed the trial. Horses were rested for 1 week and received oral treatment with either a saline placebo, recombinant human interferon alpha (rHIA; 90 U/horse/day), or natural human interferon alpha (nHIA: 50 U/horse/day) for 5 days. There was a significant decline in nasal discharge and cough scores in all groups and the apparent response rate was similar. However, significantly fewer horses relapsed within 2 weeks once treatment was ceased when interferon rather than placebo was used (P = 0.012). Seventeen of 22 horses treated with rHIA or nHIA were cough-free 4 weeks after treatment, compared with only 4 of 12 after treatment with the placebo. Treatment with oral interferon is a useful adjunct to rest in standardbreds with inflammatory airway disease. L’effet d’un traitement par voie orale par interféron humain alpha (IHA) naturel ou recombinant sur la maladie inflammatoire des voies aériennes chez de jeunes Standardbred a été étudié dans un essai clinique en double insu chez des sujets répartis au hasard. Un total de 34 chevaux présentant un écoulement nasal, un excès de mucus dans la trachée et une toux persistante depuis au moins 2 semaines, et dont les symptômes gênaient l’entraînement, ont complété l’étude. Les chevaux ont été mis au repos pendant 1 semaine et ont reçu, par voie orale, soit un placebo salin, soit de l’interféron humain recombinant alpha (IHAr : 90 U/cheval/jour) soit de l’interféron humain naturel alpha (IHAn : 50 U/cheval/jour) pendant 5 jours. Il y a eu une diminution significative de l’écoulement nasal et de la cote de toux et quel que fut le groupe expérimental, le taux apparent de réponse était semblable. Cependant, le nombre de chevaux présentant des rechutes dans les 2 semaines suivant la fin du traitement était significativement plus bas dans les groupes interférons que dans le groupe placebo ( = 0,012). Dix-sept des 22 chevaux traités à l’IHAr ou à l’IHAn ne présentaient plus de toux 4 semaines après le traitement contre seulement 4 sur 12 avec le placebo. Le traitement oral à l’interféron constitue un complément au repos chez les Standardbred présentant une maladie inflammatoire des voies aériennes.
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Publication Date: 2004-08-20 PubMed ID: 15317391PubMed Central: PMC548639
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study examines how oral treatments with human interferon alpha (HIA) impacts the progress of inflammatory airway conditions in young standardbred horses. The conclusion drawn from this double-blind, randomized clinical trial is that interferon treatment significantly reduces instances of relapse and symptom duration in horses inflicted with this ailment.

Research Methodology

  • The experimental sample comprised 34 young standardbred horses which exhibited symptoms of inflammatory airway disease. These symptoms included persistent cough for at least two weeks, nasal discharge, and excess mucus in the trachea, which posed challenges to their training regimen.
  • For the purpose of the experiment, the horses underwent an initial rest period for one week. This was followed by an oral treatment schedule where they received either a saline placebo, recombinant human interferon alpha (rHIA; 90 U/horse/day), or natural human interferon alpha (nHIA: 50 U/horse/day) for a period of five days.
  • The research methodology implemented was a double-blind, randomized clinical trial, ensuring all participants, both the experimenters and the subjects, remained unaware of the group allocations during the study.

Study Findings

  • All treatment categories witnessed a noticeable decline in symptoms such as nasal discharge and coughing, with similarity in the rate of response across all groups.
  • The major distinguishing outcome was found in the rate of relapse within two weeks post-treatment. Horses treated with either form of interferon showed significantly lesser relapse rates compared to those administered with the placebo. The statistical evidence for this is marked at P = 0.012.
  • Follow-ups after the completion of treatment revealed that 17 of the 22 horses treated with rHIA or nHIA remained cough-free four weeks after treatment, in comparison to only 4 out of the 12 horses in the placebo group.

Study Conclusion

  • Interferon, administered orally, emerges as a beneficial therapeutic addition to rest in standardbreds suffering from inflammatory airway disease. Its use contributes to a considerable reduction in the instances of relapse and prolongation of symptom-free periods in affected horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Moore I, Horney B, Day K, Lofstedt J, Cribb AE. (2004). Treatment of inflammatory airway disease in young standardbreds with interferon alpha. Can Vet J, 45(7), 594-601.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 7
Pages: 594-601

Researcher Affiliations

Moore, Ian
  • Departments of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
Horney, Barbara
    Day, Kendra
      Lofstedt, Jeanne
        Cribb, Alastair E

          MeSH Terms

          • Administration, Oral
          • Animals
          • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
          • Double-Blind Method
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Interferon Type I / administration & dosage
          • Interferon Type I / therapeutic use
          • Male
          • Recombinant Proteins
          • Respiratory Tract Diseases / drug therapy
          • Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
          • Severity of Illness Index
          • Treatment Outcome

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 4 times.
          1. Frazzini S, Riva F, Amadori M. Therapeutic and Prophylactic Use of Oral, Low-Dose IFNs in Species of Veterinary Interest: Back to the Future. Vet Sci 2021 Jun 11;8(6).
            doi: 10.3390/vetsci8060109pubmed: 34208413google scholar: lookup
          2. Mamber SW, Lins J, Gurel V, Hutcheson DP, Pinedo P, Bechtol D, Krakowka S, Fields-Henderson R, Cummins JM. Low-dose oral interferon modulates expression of inflammatory and autoimmune genes in cattle. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2016 Apr;172:64-71.
            doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2016.03.006pubmed: 27032505google scholar: lookup
          3. Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.13824pubmed: 26806374google scholar: lookup
          4. Greim E, Naef J, Mainguy-Seers S, Lavoie JP, Sage S, Dolf G, Gerber V. Breath characteristics and adventitious lung sounds in healthy and asthmatic horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jan-Feb;38(1):495-504.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.16980pubmed: 38192117google scholar: lookup
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