Comparison of tracheal aspirates before and after high-speed treadmill exercise in racehorses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether percentages of neutrophils in tracheal aspirate (TA) samples collected from racehorses are increased after exercise and whether interpretation of results from TA samples taken before and after exercise agree. DESIGN: Case series of 40 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses in race training presented for evaluation of poor performance. PROCEDURE: TA samples were collected endoscopically from racehorses presented for poor performance 24 h before and 1 to 2 h after high speed treadmill exercise testing. Aliquots of the retrieved fluid were cytocentrifuged and smears were stained with Diff-Quik. Mean neutrophil counts were expressed as percentages of the total number of inflammatory cells counted and subsequently were categorised as either above or below an accepted cut-off of 20%. Comparisons between percentages of neutrophils before and after exercise were made. RESULTS: Percentage of neutrophils from TA samples obtained from racehorses after exercise was significantly higher than neutrophil percentages from TA samples collected from the same horse before exercise. In horses with TA specimens that were categorised as having < or = 20% neutrophils before treadmill exercise, the percentage of neutrophils in their TA specimens after exercise was, on average, significantly higher and was greater than the cut-off value of 20%. CONCLUSION: Recent strenuous exercise may change the proportion of neutrophils in lower airways of racehorses and practitioners should be aware of this when collecting and interpreting the results from TA samples. The most practical time for collection of a TA sample to obtain the most diagnostically useful information might be after a suitable washout period of at least 1 to 2 h post-exercise.     

Thermoregulatory capacity of the Thoroughbred racehorse and its relationship to the pathogenesis of exertional heat illness

When racehorses fail to thermoregulate effectively, whether due to intrinsic or extrinsic factors, a condition called exertional heat illness (EHI) may occur, which can be life-threatening and represents a significant welfare issue. Horses usually become affected in the recovery phase soon after racing, so that a knowledge of the ‘normal’ thermoregulatory processes which operate at this time and their variations is essential to enable early detection of EHI. Racing in hot or warm and humid weather conditions represents the upper extreme of thermoregulatory variations, and observations on how horses normally recover at the racetrack may provide a clearer perspective on the physiology of that process for all sports horses. This review focuses on the post-exercise thermoregulatory capacity of the Thoroughbred racehorse, with a view to understanding the physiological mechanisms that should efficiently dissipate excess heat. The clinical manifestations of exertional heat illness are due to inadequate or harmful physiological responses, and if recognised and treated early can be effectively curtailed.     

Exertional heat illness in Thoroughbred racehorses – Pathophysiology,case definition and treatment rationale

The combination of extreme heat, humidity and strenuous exercise is potentially challenging to the thermoregulatory system of a Thoroughbred racehorse, and under certain circumstances can cause a condition called exertional heat illness (EHI). It is difficult to predict its occurrence in an individual animal due to the combination on race day of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors. Education regarding EHI is essential to its prevention, and lack of understanding amongst those responsible for the horse’s care may in fact be the most important risk factor. The pathophysiology of EHI is similar across elite athletic species and is directly related to an elevation in core body temperature that exceeds the ‘critical thermal maximum’, causing widespread destruction of cells. It is not only the high core temperature but also its duration that will dictate outcome. Treatment strategies should decrease the hyperthermia to near normal levels within 30 min of onset, which will minimise adverse consequences. This review article outlines the pathophysiological changes as EHI progresses, and the case definition at each emergent level. Pharmacological treatment strategies and their rationale are presented. Aggressive cooling, however, is the key treatment and requires a technique which is both practical and effective in rapidly reducing core body temperature. The treatment paradigm is early detection, rapid assessment enabling prioritisation of individuals and aggressive cooling. Each stage is critically discussed.     

The use of the hand-held infrared thermometer as an early detection tool for exertional heat illness in Thoroughbred racehorses: A study at racetracks in eastern Australia

Thoroughbred racehorses perform exercise at maximal intensities and typically display a hyperthermic exercise response, which can drive core body temperature to critical levels. Despite extremely efficient thermoregulatory mechanisms, certain weather conditions may affect the horse’s ability to cool and result in a syndrome referred to as exertional heat illness (EHI). This is characterised by central nervous system dysfunction, as well as cytotoxic effects of heat on cells, which can produce deleterious consequences. Early detection of exertional heat illness (EHI) in Thoroughbred racehorses can be difficult because signs are often vague and the measurement of rectal temperature as an indicator of hyperthermia is not practical. Best practice in the treatment of EHI in horses, as in human subjects, centres on early detection, rapid assessment and aggressive cooling. Research in human subjects has shown that EHI is manageable when recognised early and appropriate treatment provided. The aim of this study was to investigate the measurement of skin surface temperature (SST) by an infrared thermometer as an aid in the early detection of EHI. A skin surface temperature ≥39°C in the immediate postrace period is considered to be hot. It reflects the interaction of exercise-related metabolic heat production, physiological adjustments to the skin surface such as vasodilation and sweating, together with the effect of high ambient temperature. Most importantly, high SST is associated with a reduced core-to-skin temperature difference, which retards heat transfer from the deep body tissues to the skin and can hinder heat dissipation. Identification of horses with high SSTs can prioritise them for rapid cooling and curtail possible progression to EHI.     

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.     

Grass greenness flush can influence breeding phenology and fertility in equatorial thoroughbred mares in the absence of photoperiod variation

Reproductive phenology is an important trait subjected to natural selection. Current horses in America belong to the Palearctic original populations after being introduced by European colonizers. Photoperiod variation is the main environmental factor for the adjustment of reproductive timing in horses, but is absent in equatorial areas. Here we hypothesize that seasonality of green‐grass availability may influence breeding phenology in equatorial regions. We used data of 929 services to mares from 2006 to 2011 in a thoroughbred equine exploitation in Ecuador that experienced strong grass seasonality. Actual births could not be used to infer natural phenology because they were influenced by management decisions. Instead, we used variations in the probability of pregnancy after a service as a measure of the natural tendency of mares to show breeding phenology. We found that although managers tended to schedule pregnancies in two periods within the year, mares were more prone to become pregnant after the increase in grass greenness that takes place at the beginning of the year (February). Our finding has potential applications to improve the success of services and the welfare of animals, by providing green‐grass stimuli in the appropriate season.     

Influence of different exercise regimes on the proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred horses

Reasons for performing study: Most lameness in horses relates to foot problems and may be associated with changes in hoof shape, but there is a lack of information on the influence of normal exercise on hoof shape. Objectives: To investigate the effect of training on proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred racehorses being prepared for racing. Methods: Thirty‐seven young Thoroughbred racehorses were included in this study. Front hoof circumference immediately below the coronary band was measured weekly with a measuring tape in all horses present at the stable. Most horses accomplished a minimum of 2 training periods at the stable separated by periods of rest on a paddock. One sample t tests were used to evaluate if the mean change per week differed from zero. To estimate the repeatability coefficient, the left proximal hoof circumference of 25 horses was measured 3 times in a random order on one day. Results: Most horses showed a similar pattern of change. The proximal hoof circumference decreased during the training periods (P<0.0001) and increased when the horse was rested (P<0.0001). The decrease of the circumference during the first training period was ?0.66 mm/week on the left and ?0.64 mm/week on the right. During the second training period, this was ?0.58 mm/week on the left and ?0.57 mm/week on the right. During the rest period, the circumference increased by 1.03 mm/week on the left and 1.12 mm/week on the right. The repeatability coefficient for the left circumference was 1.8 mm. Conclusions: Horses showed a decrease in circumference during race training that reversed when they were rested. Potential relevance: Measurement of front hoof circumference is a simple method to assess change in hoof shape. It provides an opportunity to investigate the relationships between specific training, hoof shape and soundness.     

Etiologic and epidemiologic analysis of bacterial infectious upper respiratory disease in Thoroughbred horses at the Seoul Race Park

Infectious upper respiratory disease (IURD) of Thoroughbred racehorses has been a frequent problem (29.6% of incidence) at the Seoul Race Park (Korea). Risk factors for IURD include the season with a high transfer rate (summer and fall), the stabling period (≤ 3 months), and age (2 to 3 years old), suggesting that the movement and new environment may have depressed the immune system of the horses and decreased their ability to respond properly to pathogens. The bacterial strains (n = 98) isolated from IURD horses included Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and zooepidemicus.