A Retrospective Study of Mortality Causes in Arabian Horses

Abstract

This study aims to describe the causes of death in Arabian horses at Al Wathba, in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) during 2018-2019. This study was conducted in a cohort of all Arabian horses that died. Data was collected retrospectively and only those horses with a full necropsy report available were included in the study. The carcass and all internal organs of each horse were examined and representative samples of tissues with abnormalities were collected in 10% neutral buffered formalin and processed for histopathological examination. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. A total of 25 Arabian horses were examined post-mortem. Out of them, 35% were females. In general, colic occurred specifically at a higher frequency (80%), cases of collapse and sudden death during exercise and races occurred in 8%, cases of perinatal death in 8% and one case of laminitis (4%). The annual mortality in relation to the estimated population was 1% approximately. In conclusion, we identified and described the causes of death in Arabian horses in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, UAE during the period 2018-2019. In summary, a pathology of the digestive system specifically acute abdominal crisis (colic) is the main cause of death in Arabian horses, with 80%; other causes of mortality with a low incidence were in order collapse and sudden death during exercise and races, perinatal death and laminitis. These results allow establishing risk prevention measures of mortality in horses for specific activities like handling, feeding, training and races