Post-race tracheal mucus is a common finding in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds without signs of respiratory disease, and its clinical relevance is unclear. We evaluated the relationship between mucus score (0-5) and racing performance, racetrack location, surface and condition and some environmental factors in this age-group of horses. 1,071 post-race videoendoscopies were independently assigned mucus scores by three observers blinded to horse identity, and the consensus score was recorded. Pearson’s Chi-squared independence test and ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test analysed relationships of mucus scores to performance and racetrack environmental variables, respectively. Significance was set at
Purchase
Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your brill.com account
Bayly, W., 2021. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage – an occupational hazard of high-speed exercise. Proceedings of the American Association of Equine Practitioners 67: 465-488.
Bond, S.L., Greco-Otto, P., MacLeod, J., Galezowski, A., Bayly, W. and Leguillette, R., 2020. Efficacy of dexamethasone, salbutamol, and reduced respirable particulate concentration on aerobic capacity in horses with smoke-induced mild asthma. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34: 979-985. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15696.
Burrell, M.H., 1985. Endoscopic and virological observations on respiratory disease in a group of young Thoroughbred horses in training. Equine Veterinary Journal 17: 99-103.
Burrell, M.H., Wood, J.L.N., Whitwell, K.E., Chanter, N., Mackintosh, M.E. and Mumford, J.A., 1996. Respiratory disease in Thoroughbred horses in training: the relationships between disease and viruses, bacteria and environment. Veterinary Record 139: 308-313. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.139.13.308
Button, B.M. and Button, B., 2013. Structure and function of the mucus clearance system of the lung. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine 3: a009720. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a009720
Chapman, R.S., Green, C., Main, J.P.M., Taylor, P.M., Cunningham, F.M., Cook, A.J.C. and Marr, C.M., 2000. Retrospective study of the relationships between age, inflammation and the isolation of bacteria from the lower respiratory tract of Thoroughbred horses. Veterinary Record 146: 91-95. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.146.4.91
Christley, R.M., Hodgson, D.R., Rose, R.J., Hodgson, J.L., Wood, J.L.N. and Reid, S.W.J., 2001. Coughing in Thoroughbred racehorses: risk factors and tracheal endoscopic and cytological findings. Veterinary Record 148: 99-104. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.148.4.99
Claußen, G. and Hessel, E.F., 2017. Particulate matter in equestrian stables and riding arenas. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 55: 60-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.04.004
Couetil, L., Cardwell, J.M., Leguillette, R., Mazan, M., Richard, E., Bienzle, D., Bullone, M., Gerber, V., Ivester, K., Lavoie, J.P., Martin, J., Moran, G., Niedźwiedź, A., Pusterla, N. and Swiderski, C., 2020. Equine asthma: current understanding and future directions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7: 450. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00450
Gerber, V., Robinson, N.E., Luethi, S., Marti, E., Wampfler, B. and Straub, R., 2003. Airway inflammation and mucus in two age groups of asymptomatic well-performing sport horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 35: 491-495. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516403775600424
Gerber, V., Straub, R., Marti, E., Hauptman, J., Herholz, C., King, M., Imhof, A., Tahon, L. and Robinson, N.E., 2004. Endoscopic scoring of mucus quantity and quality: observer and horse variance and relationship to inflammation, mucus viscoelasticity and volume. Equine Veterinary Journal 36: 576-582. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044864525
Hinchcliff, K.W., Jackson, M.A., Morley, P.S., Brown, J.A., Dredge, A.E., O’Callaghan, P.A., McCaffrey, J.P., Slocombe, R.E. and Clarke, A.E., 2005. Association between exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medicine Association 227: 768-774. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.227.768
Holcombe, S.J., Jackson, C., Gerber, V., Jefcoat, A., Berney, C., Eberhardt, S. and Robinson, N.E., 2001. Stabling is associated with airway inflammation in young Arabian horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 33: 244-249. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776249606
Holcombe, S.J., Robinson, N.E., Derksen, F.J., Bertold, B., Genovese, R., Miller, R., de Feiter Rupp, H., Carr, E.A., Eberhart, S.W., Boruta, D. and Kaneene, J.B., 2006. Effect of tracheal mucus and tracheal cytology on racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal 38: 300-304. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406777749191
Ivester, K.M., Couëtil, L.L. and Zimmerman, N.J., 2014. Investigating the link between particulate exposure and airway inflammation in the horse. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 28: 1653-1665. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12458
Karagianni, A.E., Kurian, D., Cillán-Garcia, E., Eaton, S.L., Wishart, T.M. and Pirie, R.S., 2022. Training associated alterations in equine respiratory immunity using a multiomics comparative approach. Scientific Reports 12: 427.
Millerick-May, M.L., Karmaus, W., Derksen, F.J., Berthold, B., Holcombe, S.J. and Robinson, N.E., 2013. Local airborne particulate concentration is associated with visible tracheal mucus in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal 45: 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00568.x.
Millerick-May, M.L., Karmaus, W., Derksen, F.J., Berthold, B. and Robinson, N.E., 2015. Airborne particulates (PM10) and tracheal mucus: a case-control study at an American Thoroughbred racetrack. Equine Veterinary Journal 47: 410-414. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12303.
Mirabelli, M.C., Ebelt, S. and Damon, S.A., 2020. Air quality index and air quality awareness among adults in the United States. Environmental Research 183: 109185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109185
Mönki, J., Saastamoinen, M., Karikoski, N., Norring, M., Rajamäki, M. and Mykkänen, A., 2021. Effects of bedding material on equine lower airway inflammation: a comparison of two peat beddings, wood pellet, and straw pellet. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 8: 799645. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.79964
Saulez, M.N. and Gummow, B., 2009. Prevalence of pharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal disorders in Thoroughbred racehorses, and effect on performance. Veterinary Record 165: 431-435.
Vandenput, S., Istasse, L., Nicks, B. and Lekeux, P., 1997. Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations in different sources of feed and bedding for horses. Veterinary Quarterly 19: 154-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1997.9694762
Wilsher, S., Allen, W.R. and Wood, J.L.N., 2006. Factors associated with failure of Thoroughbred horses to train and race. Equine Veterinary Journal 38: 113-118. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406776563305
Wood, J.L.N., Burrell, M.H., Roberts, C.A., Chanter, N. and Shaw, Y., 1993. Streptococci and Pasteurella spp. associated with disease of the equine lower respiratory tract. Equine Veterinary Journal 25: 314-318.
Wood, J.L.N., Newton, J.R., Chanter, N. and Mumford, J.A., 2005. Association between respiratory disease and bacterial and viral infections in British racehorses. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 43: 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.43.1.120-126.2005
Woods, P.S., Robinson, N.E., Swanson, M.C., Reed, C.E., Broadstone, R.V. and Derksen, F.J., 1993. Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentration in a horse stable under two different management systems. Equine Veterinary Journal 25: 208-213. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02945.x
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 604 | 132 | 19 |
| Full Text Views | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 49 | 20 | 4 |
Post-race tracheal mucus is a common finding in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds without signs of respiratory disease, and its clinical relevance is unclear. We evaluated the relationship between mucus score (0-5) and racing performance, racetrack location, surface and condition and some environmental factors in this age-group of horses. 1,071 post-race videoendoscopies were independently assigned mucus scores by three observers blinded to horse identity, and the consensus score was recorded. Pearson’s Chi-squared independence test and ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test analysed relationships of mucus scores to performance and racetrack environmental variables, respectively. Significance was set at
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 604 | 132 | 19 |
| Full Text Views | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 49 | 20 | 4 |