Tracheal Endoscopic and Cytological Findings and Blood Examination Results in Thoroughbred Racehorses Suspected to have Lower Respiratory Tract Disease

Cytology of tracheal aspirates, tracheal endoscopic and blood tests were carried out to 86 Thoroughbred racehorses presenting coughs or poor performance which were suspected to have lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) to assess the conditions of the disorders. Racehorses were classified into coughing (66 horses) and non-coughing (20 horses) groups based on clinical symptoms. Nine Thoroughbred racehorses without respiratory abnormality were used as controls. Assessment of grades of airway mucus, cytology of tracheal aspirates and serum amyloid A (SAA), fibrinogen (Fbg) and pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) measurements were performed. Relationships between age, gender and racing careers were also investigated to understand the characteristics of LRTD in racehorses. Mean age was significantly higher in non-coughing group compared to coughing group. Existence of racing career and number of starts were significantly greater in non-coughing group compared to coughing group. On the other hand, grades of airway mucus were significantly higher in coughing group compared to control group. Percentages of neutrophils in tracheal aspirates were significantly higher in coughing group compared to non-coughing and control groups. SAA, Fbg and SP-D were higher in coughing group compared to non-coughing and control groups indicating that condition of coughing group is in the acute phase. Positive rate of inflammatory airway disease was significantly higher in coughing and non-coughing groups compared to control group. It was concluded that carrying out comprehensive evaluation including investigation on SAA, Fbg and SP-D analysis with airway assessment to Thoroughbred racehorses which were suspected to have LRTD are useful procedure to understand the pathological condition which aid to initiate appropriate treatment, prognosis judgment or to advise trainers to consider altering training regimen.     

Acute Phase Proteins in Racehorses with Inflammatory Airway Disease

Background

Systemic inflammation is observed in horses with heaves and could also be present in horses with a lesser degree of pulmonary inflammation.

Hypothesis/Objectives

It was hypothesized that racehorses with inflammatory airway disease (IAD) have increased concentration of circulating acute phase proteins. The objective of this study was to compare serum acute phase proteins of racehorses with and without lower airway inflammation.

Animals

Serum from 21 client‐owned Standardbred racehorses with exercise intolerance and lower airway inflammation and serum from 10 client‐owned Standardbred racehorses with exercise intolerance without lower airway inflammation.

Methods

In a case–control study, serum samples from previously characterized horses presented for exercise intolerance with or without lower airway inflammation based on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology were analyzed for serum amyloid A protein (SAA), C‐reactive protein (CRP), and haptoglobin using commercial ELISAs.

Results

There was no significant differences between groups for SAA (non‐IAD versus IAD, median (range): 3.47 (0.06–34.94) versus 6.33 (0.06–80) μg/mL, P = .49), CRP (10.87 (2.05–29.03) versus 4.63 (0.02–31.81) μg/mL, P = .23) or haptoglobin (900.36 (607.99–2018.84) versus 749.54 (530.81–1076.95) μg/mL, P = .09).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

In this population of poorly performing racehorses in training, serum SAA, CRP, and haptoglobin were not helpful in distinguishing between horses with IAD from horses with exercise intolerance from other causes.     

Effect of Low-Dose Human Interferon-alpha on Shipping Fever of Thoroughbred Racehorses

To assess the effect of human interferon-alpha (IFNα) on shipping fever of Thoroughbred racehorses subjected to long-distance transportation, an IFNα preparation was orally administered to 48 horses three times (once daily, 3 successive days) before transportation (IFNα group). In the control group (25 horses), maltose was administered in the same way. These treatments induced no abnormal findings in Thoroughbred racehorses before transportation. Immediately after transportation, significant increases in rectal temperature were observed in both treatment groups, whereas the rectal temperature of the IFNα group tended to be lower than that of the control group. Although WBC, Fbg, and SAA immediately after transportation were significantly increased due to transportation in both groups, the extent of the increases in the IFNα group was significantly smaller than in the control group. Long-distance transportation had a relatively profound impact on Thoroughbred racehorses, which was mitigated by IFNα treatment.     

Demographic Analysis of Breeding Structure in Japanese Thoroughbred Population

To investigate the breeding structure in the Japanese Thoroughbred population, we applied a demographic analysis to the populations of foals produced from 1978 to 2005. The migration rate estimated from the proportion of foals produced by imported breeding horses was around 40% over the investigated period. After early 1990s, the migration rate through stallions imported from USA sharply increased. The average generation interval was within range of 10.5–11.5 years. The longer generation interval of Thoroughbred was considered to be a reflection of the fact that Thoroughbred horses begin breeding only after completing their performance in races. After the peak of 729 in 1993, the number of sires of foals progressively declined to 358 in 2005. Although the coefficient of variation of the progeny number of sires was within range of 1.0–1.2 until early 1990s, it gradually increased and reached the value of 1.6–1.7 in recent years. The effective number of sires consistently decreased after the peak of 302.6 in 1992, and reached 120–130 in recent years, which is 25–30% of the actual number of sires. In parallel, the demographic estimate of the effective population size declined after early 1990s. The main cause of the observed change in the breeding structure was inferred to be the intensive use of a limited number of stallions for breeding.     

Characteristic computed tomographic myelography findings in 23 Thoroughbred horses

The purpose of this observational study was to determine the characteristic computed tomographic (CT) myelography findings of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM) lesions in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 23 Thoroughbred horses (age range, 155–717 days on CT examination; mean, 410.9 days) were analyzed. All 23 Thoroughbred horses underwent unenhanced radiography, radiographic myelography, and CT myelography. Unenhanced radiographs were observed the presence of cervical vertebral malalignment and osseous lesions. Radiographic myelograms were observed for signs of cervical spinal cord compression; additionally, CT myelograms were used to detect cervical vertebral osseous lesions. Ventral compressions were frequently observed in the cranial cervical vertebrae (C2–C4), whereas dorsal compressions were frequently observed in the caudal cervical vertebrae (C5–C7). Furthermore, osseous lesions of the caudal articular process developed more frequently than those of the cranial articular process. CT myelography in Thoroughbred horses is a useful method for detecting CVSM changes.     

Three cases of idiopathic eosinophilic enteritis with chronic obstinate diarrhea in Japanese Black fattening cattle

Eosinophilic enteritis (EOE) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease and is characterized clinically by chronic obstinate diarrhea. Three Japanese Black (JB) fattening cattle (2 males and 1 female) on different cattle farms presented with chronic episodic diarrhea without fever or dehydration. Soft reddish spherical carneous tissues (1−3 cm) were occasionally excreted within the diarrheic feces. Administration of antibiotics, antidiarrheal drugs and vermicides had no therapeutic effect, but dexamethasone improved the fecal characteristics. The symptoms persisted until the animals were slaughtered at 27–30 months of age. Histopathological examination of the intestines revealed marked eosinophilic infiltration in the lamina propria and submucosa. From these findings, we diagnosed these cattle as the first cases of EOE in JB cattle.     

双歧杆菌及其产品缓解肠炎症状的研究进展

双歧杆菌具有调节肠道菌群、缓解功能性胃肠道疾病的功能,是目前广为使用的用于改善人体肠道的益生菌之一。炎症性肠病（inflammatory bowel disease,IBD）是一种慢性复发性炎症性疾病,该疾病伴随着肠黏膜溃疡、细胞死亡,并且容易复发。近年来,相关报道在肠炎治疗方面提到了双歧杆菌的益生作用。本文概述双歧杆菌、双歧杆菌产品、双歧杆菌代谢物对IBD的缓解效果,为双歧杆菌在医药方面的应用提供新的研究方向。     

Effects of Amino Acids on Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Its Signaling Pathways

The intestine is the primary organ responsible for digestion and absorption of nutrients and is frequently subjected to external environmental stimulations leading to the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can cause serious harm to intestinal health in animals. Dietary amino acids play important roles in promoting intestinal development and maintaining intestinal health and exert diverse effects through multiple signaling pathways on the prevention and treatment of IBD, including affecting the physiological activities of intestinal epithelial cells, improving intestinal barrier function, reducing intestinal oxidative damage, regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines, and promoting the expression of endogenous antimicrobial peptides, and involved in main signaling pathways including AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). In this review, basic characteristics of IBD, effects and involved signaling pathways of the amino acids on IBD, and effects and applications of amino acids in maintaining intestinal health in livestock and poultry production were reviewed, so as to provide effective clues and strategies for dietary nutrients in the prevention and treatment of IBD.     

氨基酸在炎症性肠病中的作用及其信号通路

肠道是营养物质消化、吸收的主要器官,但易受外界环境刺激,导致炎症性肠病（inflammatory bowel disease,IBD）的发生,严重危害动物肠道健康。膳食氨基酸在促进肠道发育、维持肠道健康方面发挥重要作用,其主要通过调控腺苷酸活化蛋白激酶（AMP-activated kinase,AMPK）、雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR）、丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）、Toll样受体（Toll-like receptors,TLRs）、核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域（nucleotide binding oligomerization domain,NOD）/核因子-κB（nuclear factor kappa-B,NF-κB）等信号通路影响肠上皮细胞生理活动、改善肠道屏障功能、减轻肠道氧化损伤、调节炎性因子的产生、提高内源抗菌肽表达,进而预防和治疗IBD。本文综述了IBD的基本特征、氨基酸在IBD中的作用及其信号通路,以及氨基酸在畜禽生长中维持肠道健康的作用与应用,为膳食营养素防治IBD提供有效线索与策略。     

小檗碱对炎症性肠病肠道屏障的影响及其信号通路

小檗碱是传统中药黄连等植物的主要活性成分,具有抗菌消炎、调节机体免疫等作用,可改善由炎症性肠病(IBD)导致的肠道屏障损伤。小檗碱通过抑制Toll样受体(TLRs)/核转录因子κB(NF⁃κB)、Janus活化激酶(JAK)/信号转导与转录激活子(STAT)信号通路和激活胰岛素样生长因子1(IGF⁃1)/胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白(IGFBPs)信号通路,缓解IBD引起的肠道机械屏障、化学屏障、免疫屏障和微生物屏障功能损伤。本文就小檗碱的来源及理化性质、IBD的病理特征、小檗碱对IBD肠道屏障的修复作用及其信号通路进行综述,以期为畜牧生产中保护动物肠道健康提供参考。     

Acute Upper Airway Obstruction Due to Inflammatory Laryngeal Disease in 5 Cats

Objective: To describe a clinical syndrome of upper airway obstruction in 5 cats due to inflammatory laryngeal disease.
Series Summary: Medical records of 5 cats with upper airway obstruction and a histopathologic diagnosis of inflammatory laryngeal disease were reviewed. Historical findings included: dyspnea, anorexia, voice change, and gagging/non-productive retching. Thoracic radiographs revealed a bronchial pattern in 2 cats, with consolidation of the right middle lung lobe in one cats. Laryngeal examinations typically revealed severe swelling and erythema which could not be grossly distinguished from neoplasia. Histopathologic examination of laryngeal biopsies revealed neutrophilic (n=5) and lymphoplasmacytic (n=4) inflammation. All of the cats were treated with corticosteroids and 4 cats received antibiotics. Two cats died while hospitalized, one was discharged and lost to follow-up, and 2 are doing well 7 months and 4 years later, respectively.
New information provided: Inflammatory laryngeal disease in cats may present as an acute upper airway obstruction. These cases may respond to corticosteroids and antibiotics, and some cases may have an excellent long-term prognosis.( J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2001; 11(3): 205–211 )     

High prevalence of Mycoplasma equirhinis in Thoroughbred horses with respiratory symptoms in autumn 2018

Mycoplasma species are often isolated from horses with respiratory symptoms; however, the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma is still unclear. In autumn of 2018, we encountered an increase in cases with respiratory symptoms, mainly coughing, in a group of Thoroughbred racehorses in Japan. We examined tracheal wash samples obtained from 40 of those cases. Bacteria and viruses that commonly cause respiratory symptoms were investigated, and anaerobes were detected in only 5 cases and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) was detected in only 1 case of 40 cases with loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay. S. zooepidemicus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated at a bacterial count of higher than 1.0 × 10⁴ CFU/ml from 5 and 2 cases of 28 cases cultured, respectively. None of the viruses investigated was detected in 40 cases. Mycoplasma equirhinis (M. equirhinis) was isolated from 40.0% (16/40) of the cases, which was higher than previously reported isolation rates. The rate of M. equirhinis isolation in the cases from 2018 was significantly higher than the isolation rates in the other horses: clinical cases with respiratory symptoms in 2019–2020 (13.6%, 3/22) and healthy horses (13.5%, 5/37) in Japan. In this study, the isolation rate of M. equirhinis from horse group with cough symptoms in 2018 was high and no other common etiological agents were detected. The pathogenesis of M. equirhinis is still unclear, however, M. equirhinis might have been associated with respiratory symptoms in the Thoroughbred horse cases in 2018.