UPPER AIRWAY EVALUATIONS OF THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSES IN A PRIVATE CLINIC IN CURITIBA, BRAZIL – RESTING ENDOSCOPIC FINDINGS IN 587 HORSES

Pedro H Kaiseler,Bruna Dzyekanski,Richard Schiefelbein,Rafael G Silveira,Cláudia T Pimpão,Pedro V Michelotto Jr

doi:10.5380/avs.v17i4.22645

Abstract

Obstructive upper airway diseases are an important cause of poor performance in athletic horses. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of common URT abnormalities (pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia - PLH, dorsal displacement of the soft palate - DDSP and recurrent laryngeal neuropathy - RLN) in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses in training submitted to resting endoscopy in a private clinic in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. 587 URT resting endoscopies, 385 2-year-old and 202 3-year-old-plus horses, were performed during the period of the study and the clinical records of all the examinations were reviewed and analysed. 340 (57.9 %) horses were evaluated for routine athletic follow up, 15 (2.6%) were pre-purchase examinations, 83 (14.1%) were examined as an investigation for cough, 58 (9.9%) horses had poor performance, 48 (8.2%) had abnormal respiratory noise, 35 (6.0%) had epistaxis and 8 (1.4%) had nasal discharge. Pharyngitis (Grades III, IV PLH) was diagnosed in 198 (33.7%) horses and was more prevalent in the 2-year-old group than in the older horses (40.5% vs. 20.8%, P<0.05). DDSP was identified in 185 (31.5%) horses, Grade III RLN in 13 (2.2%) and Grade IV was seen in 21 (3.6%) horses. The present study gives a prevalence of upper airway abnormalities in resting endoscopic evaluation in a racehorse population in Brazil.

Highlights

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of threeObstructive upper airway diseases common URT abnormalities (PLH, are an important cause of poor Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) and RLN) in a population of TB performance in athletic horses (Martin racehorses in training submitted to et al, 1999; Ducharme, 2005; Tan et resting endoscopy in a private clinic al., 2005; Lane et al, 2006a)
The present study gives a prevalence of upper airway abnormalities in resting endoscopic evaluation in a racehorse population in Brazil
Due to an located in Curitiba, south of Brazil, to increased resistance to airflow, these examine if associations existed results in an exacerbation of exercise- between the disorders studied, and to induced hypoxemia

Summary

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of threeObstructive upper airway diseases common URT abnormalities (PLH, are an important cause of poor DDSP and RLN) in a population of TB performance in athletic horses (Martin racehorses in training submitted to et al, 1999; Ducharme, 2005; Tan et resting endoscopy in a private clinic al., 2005; Lane et al, 2006a). 587 URT resting endoscopies of (RLN) are two of the most common TB racehorses in training were obstructive diseases affecting the URT performed between June 1992 and in horses (Martin et al, 1999; Lane et October 2007 in an equine clinic located al., 2006a). These obstructions result in at the Jockey Club of Paraná in the city airflow turbulence during expiration in of Curitiba, Brazil.

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion