Equine Respiratory Disease Flashcards
What is one of the most common medication conditions encountered by equine vets in the USA
Infectious Respiratory Disease
26.4% of horses tested positive for one or more pathogen
What are the clinical signs of equine viral airway disease
Fever, lethargy, anorexia, serous nasal discharge, lymphadenopathy
treat as if they are suffering from any of the viral causes
+/- multiple horses affected (more likely to be viral than bacterial)
How do you treat equine viral airway disease
Supportive care
-Rest
-NSAIDS
+/- antibiotics
+/- antivirals
treat as if they are suffering from any of the viral causes because they are indistinguishable
If you multiple horses affected with airway disease, what does this tell you about the etiology
It is less likely that it is caused by a bacteria
*Think that you are dealing with an equine viral airway disease
Why do you need to test for etiology in horses with viral airway disease
Influence outbreak control measures
1) biosecurity measures (mode of transmission)
2) length of quarantine period
3) Vaccination protocols
4) EHV-1 is reportable
how do you test for etiology in horses with viral airway disease
Antigen or genome (Virus culture, PCR, immunodetection, ELISA assays)
Antibody- serology
What do you need when diagnosing etiology in horses with viral airway disease using serological assays
typically requires demonstration of seroconversion
*possible exception: EHV-1 serology
What is the downside of serology testing for etiology in horses with viral airway disease*
it is retrospective. you need to wait 14 days to see if titer levels (seroconversion) is high enough
not good for outbreak and quaratines
What serology assay in horses with viral airway disease does not require demonstration of seroconversion *
EHV-1 CF serology
great test but no commercial labs in US have this
When you have a barn of horses with a possible respiratory outbreak, which animal should you sample
Sample sick horses (varying stage) +/- healthy contacts
collect all potential samples (serum, whole blood, swabs)
immunologoically naive animal
Which horses have longer duration of shedding and higher titers of viral airway disease
naive animals
is the length of shedding shorter in a horse that is partially immune or naive
partially immune animal
What kind of herpesvirus family do horses get (EHV-1,3,4)
alphaherpesviridae
What causes equine coital exanthema
EHV-3
*genital lesions
If a horse has genital lesions, what herpes virus caused this
EHV-3 (Coital exanthema
Which Equine Herpesvirus causes CNS disease
EHV-1
Which Equine herpesvirus causes abortion
EHV-1 and EHV-4
Which Equine herpesvirus causes respiratory disease in young horses
EHV-1 and EHV-4
Which equine herpesvirus causes ocular disease
EHV-1 and EHV-4
What equine herpesvirus is in the family gammaherpesviridae
EHV-2
EHV-5
AHV-2
AHV-4
AHV-5
*longer periods of active replication, more opportunities for spread
How do equine gammaherpesviridae typically differ from alphaherpesvirdiae
Gamma has longer periods of active replication, more opportunities for spread, typically more host adapted
*gamma clinical significance is unknown
What equine herpesviruses are in the alphaherpesvirdiae family
EHV-1
EHV-3
EHV-4
What is Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis (EMPF) associated with
EHV-5 (gammaherpesvirdiae)
EHV-5 is a ___________ that is associated with _________
gammaherpesviridae that causes Equine Multinodular pulmonary fibrosis (EMPF)
What is Equine Multinodular Pulmonary Fibrosis (EMPF)
EHV-5 *gammaherpesviridae
potentiall impacts healing of the pulmonary fibrosis
present with coughing, weight loss, +/- fever, exercise intolerance, respiratory distress
Horses with EMPF present with ______________
coughing, weight loss, +/- fever, exercise intolerance, respiratory distress
What other species can EHV-1 affect
Ruminants and Camelids (neuroglocial disease, ocular disease- blindness, retinitis, chorioretinitis, optic neuritis)
What does EHV-1 infection cause in camelids
1) Neurological Disease
2) Ocular Disease: blindness, retinitis, chorioretinitis, optic neuritis
Camelids with neurological or ocular disease (blindness, retinitis, choriorentinits, optic neuritis) might have
EHV-1
When do abortions due to EHV-1 (or 4)
occur 9-120 days post infection (majority 10-20dpi) or often during late gestation (after 7 months)
fetuses typically fresh, especially with EHV-1
What lesions do the aborted fetuses from EHV-1 typically have
they look typically fresh and normal
How might neonatal foals fro EHV-1
in utero infection or immediately after birth
born sick or become sick within 1-2 days
rapidly progressive viral pneumonitis
may survive 1-2 weeks
How might a neonatal foal get EHV-1
born sick (in utero infection) or immediately after birth (within 1-2 days)
rapidly progressive viral pneumonitis
may survive 1 to 2 weeks
Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopaty (EHM)
causes by EHV-1
severity of clinical signs can vary widely
slight hindlimb incoordination to paralysis or urinary incontinence
recovery depends of severity and extent of damage
Do horses with EHV-1 typically have more central NS or spinal NS signs
typically spinal NS signs are more common but cranial nerves can be affected
If a horse has neurological signs but no fever, can you rule out EHV-1
No it is not a ruleout
they may not have a fever
T/F: EHV does not cause respiratory signs in adult horses
True
T/F: EHV does not cause respiratory signs
False- it does in young horses
T/F: Respiratory signs of EHV are typically present before abortion
False
*monitoring for respiratory disease does not provide any warning
T/F: it is important to monitor for respiratory disease to detect EHV in horses
False
*monitoring for respiratory disease does not provide any warning
Is elimination of equine herpes virus possible?
NO- equine herpes viruses are ubiquitous (lacency)
elimination from horse populations is impossible
do not rule out if the horse hasnt had any contact with other horses because it could be latent
When is EHV reactivated?
during periods of stress
then virus is shed in the nasal sections for the infection of susceptible contacts
those horses then shed the virus in nasal secretions and there is establishment of latency
What might cause stress and subsequent reactivation from latency of EHV
observed in field after
-transport
-handling
-rehousing
-weaning
-high periods of steroids (10X)
How do you detect EHV latency carriers
Antibody (serology)
but vaccines make it difficult
Reactivation from latency of EHV due to stress is associated with
typically asymptomatic “silent” shedding
potential for disease appearance in closed horse populations
How do horses that have Reactivation from latency of EHV due to stress present
typically asymptomatic “silent” shedding
potential for disease appearance in closed horse populations
Does EHV-1 or 4 have a longer viremic period
EHV-1*
What is the pathogenesis of EHV-1 *
1) Inhalation of virus
2) Infection and replication in the respiratory epithelium
3) Shed into nasal secretion or go into epithelium and then infect leukocytes and spread to lymph nodes
4) Replication within the lymph nodes
5) Leukocytes leave LNs and create cell-associated viremia
6) Distribution throughout the body - cells go from leukocytes to endothelial cells leading to vasculitis, thrombosis and tissue destruction
7) Fetus and nervous system issues via endothelial damage
What is EHV-1 cell associated viremia
the horse will have a viremia but the virus isnt free, it is within the leukocytes
1) test buffy coat, virus will not be detected within the plasma/serum
2) Harder to eliminate via antibodies- vaccines arent as efficacious
What do you need to be careful about when sampling blood for EHV-1 infection
the virus lives within the leukocytes so it will be detectible in the buffy coat, not the serum/plasma
Why is the vaccine for EHV-1 not that efficacious
because the virus lives in leukocytes (cell associated viremia) and its not as susceptible to the antibody response
How does EHV-1 cause myeloencephalopathy *
it doesnt necessarily harm the neurons but it causes vasculitis and thrombosis via endothelial damage
*vascular injury after endothelial cell infection
-vasculitis, thrombosis, ischemia of neuropil
How does EHV-1 cause abortion
it causes vasculitis and thrombosis via endothelial damage
How long can EHV-1 cell associated viremia persist
can persist for up to 21 days even if they stopped shedding the virus
can lead to
-abortion
myeloencephalopathy
What is needed for EHV-1 to cause abortion and myeloencephalopathy
cell associated viremia causing damage to the endothelial cells
vascular injury after endothelial cell infection leading to vasculitis, thrombosis, and ischemia of neuropil
Myeloencephalopathy from EHV-1 infection
What is the difference between
-Non- neuropathogenic
and
-Neurpathogenic EHV-1
Non: AA substitition absent in 95% of non-neurologic isolates
Neuropathogenic: single AA substitution in the polymerase gene: 83% neurologic isolates
What would you see in neuropathogenic EHV-1
single AA substitution in the polymerase gene in 83% of neurologic isolates
*this produces higher levels of cell associated viremia and higher chance of neuro disease
Why might infection with neuropathic EHV-1 strain not result in nervous system disease
1) Age (EHM typically not in younger horses, more middle ages )
2) Infectious dose
3) immunity
4) Breed (ponies less likely to get EHM)
*Neurological attack rate varies between outbreaks
T/F: ponies are less likely to get EHM from EHV-1
true
How might you sample for the diagnosis of EHV-1
1) Nasal swab sample (PCR, virus isolation, etc)
2) Whole blood sample (PCR, virus isolation)
3) Tissue sample- fetal tissues (PCR, virus isolation, etc)
4) Serum sample for Serology (VN or CF) but this is retrospective and it doesnt tell you if it is herpes or not, need to demonstrate seroconversion and lab will report to state vet
How might EHV-1 be further spread after a lot of abortions
contact of fetal membranes and fluids to other horses
Is EHV-1 reportable to state vet
yes
How do you control EHV-1/4
1) Husbandry- isolation for 28 days after last new infection
2) Vaccination- Inactivated or Modified live, no vaccine protects against neurological disease
3) Antiviral drugs
What should you keep in mind when doing serology with serum for EHV-1 diagnosis
this is retrospective and it doesnt tell you if it is herpes or not, need to demonstrate seroconversion and lab will report to state vet
How long should you isolate horses wit EHV-1/4
isolate for up to 28 days after last new infection
spread primarily through contact (limited aerosol spread) so need to be careful
Vaccination for EHV-1 /4
Inactivated EHV-1: elicit VN antibody response, reduce virus shedding, reduction in the incidence of abortions, protect from respiratory disease
Modified live virus vaccines: cytotoxic T cell response is better?
*No vaccine protects against neurological disease
What should you keep in mind about the EHV-1 vaccine *
they reduce shedding, elicit antibody response, lowe abortion incidence, and protect from respiratory disease
but DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE
What dictates the quarantine and biosecurity protocols with EHV-1
the state veterinarian
*EHV-1 is a reportable disease in Colorado
Vaccination against EHV-1 may protect from _________ and __________ but does not ____________
it may protect from infection and reduce shedding but does NOT protect from neurological disease
What family of virus is equine influenza virus in
orthomyxoviridae
(A)
What are the two strains of equine influenza virus
H3N8 (eqine 2) *
H7N7 (equine-1)
genetic evolition resulted in H3N8 two distinct lineages: European and American
3 American Sublineages: South American, Kentucky, and Florida (clade 1 and clade 2 are the predominate)
*antigenic drift forms multiple different lineages
What is needed to make an effective Vaccination against Equine Influenza virus
If it offers protection from the Florida sub-lineage clades 1 and 2 because those are the predominate types
What are the clinical signs of Equine Infuenza virus
it is the same as other equine respiratory virus
-fever
-lethargy
-anorexia
-serous nasal discharge
-lymphadenopathy
-cough (especially apparent)
+/- multiple horses affected
Most of the clinical signs of equine viral respiratory disease are the same but what is significant about equine influenza virus
these horses cough a ton!!!
What is the pathogenesis of Equine Influenza virus
1) Inhalation of infectious virus
2) Infection and replication in the respiratory epithelium (cells die)
3) Following release from cell virus spreads quickly throughout the respiratory tract
4) Complications: bacterial pneumonia, myocarditis because of loss of cilia function -> reduced airway clearance
*efficient replication of virus in airways
(efficiently spread through direct contact, fomites, respiratory droplets, aerosols)
How is equine influenza virus spread
*efficient replication of virus in airways
(efficiently spread through direct contact, fomites, respiratory droplets, aerosols)
What is the sequalae of equine influenza virus
Bacterial pneumonia, myocarditis, etc
-influenza infected airway tissue, airway cells are damaged = loss of cilia function
reduced airway clearance can result in bacterial bronchopneumonia
Why do you typically get bronchopenumonia after equine influenza virus infection
-influenza infected airway tissue, airway cells are damaged = loss of cilia function
reduced airway clearance can result in bacterial bronchopneumonia
How do you diagnose Equine Influenza virus?
1) Nasal swab sample (PCR, virus isolation)
2) Serum sample (serology)
*No viremia so you cant use whole blood sample, only detect for serology via antibody
Why cant you use antigen test for Equine Influenza virus
*No viremia so you cant use whole blood sample, only detect for serology via antibody
How do you control for Equine Influenza
1) Husbandry - isolation for 21 days after last new infection (very efficient spread by droplets- up to 50 yards)
2) Vaccination is effective: Inactivated, LV, recombinant
3) Antiviral drugs
What are the different vaccinates for Equine Influenza
*Effective
1) Inactivated: quantity, quality, virus strain, adjuvants, protect against homologous virus
2) MLV: intranasal (preferred), single dose, protects up to 12 months, IgA
3) Recombinant: canary pox vector, protected against challenge with recent isolates
What family of virus is equine viral arteritis virus in
Arteriviridae
What is significant about equine viral arteritis virus when it comes to doing AI
at subfreezing temperature (cryopreserved semen) the virus can stay viable for years
A lot of the equine viral respiratory disease have the same clinical signs (fever, lethargy, anorexia, serous nasal discharge, lymphadenopathy, cough),
But what is significant about equine viral arteritis virus
Lot of variation between strains but you also see vasculitis
-Nasal discharge
-Ocular discharge
-Pink eye
-Photophobia
-Skin rash around head and neck
-Ventral edema, lower limbs, scrotum, mammary glands
-Abortions
When might equine viral arteritis virus cause abortion
Exposure of mare > 3months pregnant to EAV may lead to abortion
Abortion occurs 1-3 weeks after viral exposure
Abortions rates may range from 10-70%
How are foals with equine viral arteritis virus typically infected
in utero
may die within 2-4 days after birth due to severe progressive interstitial pneumonia or enteritis
neonatal foal equine viral arteritis virus
often infected in utero
may die within 2-4 days after birth due to severe progressive interstitial pneumonia or enteritis
How might equine viral arteritis virus be transferred
1) Semen from stallion (carrier state)
2) Nasal secretion from an acutely infected horse
What is up with the carrier stallion with equine viral arteritis virus
Possible short term infertility due to increased temperature and scrotal edema
-Subsequent fertility not impaired
-virus may localize in accessory sex glands (30-50% carrier rate)
Carrier state is a testosterone dependent condition
Is is needed for the carrier state condition of equine viral arteritis virus
testosterone
How do you diagnose equine viral arteritis virus
1) Nasal swab sample (PCR, virus isolation)
2) Whole blood sample (PCR, virus isolation)
3) Tissue sample of fetus (PCR, virus isolation)
4) Semen (PCR, virus isolation)
5) Serum sample (serology)
What should you do regarding vaccination against equine viral arteritis virus *
Consult with animal health officials to ensure that use of vaccine is in compliance with the state/s control program for EVA
Keep in mind that it is not possible to differentiate vaccine titers antibodies from natural infection and some countries prohibit importation of seropositive horses
*collect serum sample for EVA serology testing prior to vaccination
What should you do prior to vaccination against EVA *
Collect serum sample for EVA serology testing prior to vaccination
*Not possible to differentiate vaccine titers antibodies from natural infection
Some countries prohibit important of seropositive horses
T/F: you can differentiate vaccine titer antibodies against EVA from natural infection
False
Collect serum sample for EVA serology testing prior to vaccination
*Not possible to differentiate vaccine titers antibodies from natural infection
Some countries prohibit important of seropositive horses
What should you do when you diagnose EVA
report it to the state vet because they will dictate quarantine +/- biosecurity protocols
What should you do if your client wants to you vaccinate their stallion against EVA
talk to the state vet on the best protocol
will likely need serology prior to vaccination because you cant differentiate vaccine from natural infection
What are the two broad ways of controlling contagious disease
1) Minimize exposure
2) Optimize disease resistance
Why are vaccines only a supplement to controlling contagious disease
very few (if any) vaccines protect all animals from disease
vaccines may lessen severity of clinical signs, but do not prevent shedding of contagion
dfiferent levels of efficacy between different vaccines
Vaccines failuresL Inadequate response, timing (maternal antibodies), and vaccine/pathogen mathc
What are risk factors for bacterial pneumonia in horses?
-Foals
-Race training
-Racing
-Transportation
-Air quality (ammonia paralyze the cilia)
What are the differences in horses with pneumonia vs pleuropneumonia *
Pneumonia: cough, fever, lethargy +/- anorexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge, Increased RR +/- effort
Pleuropneumonia: often no/mild cough, fever, severe lethargy, anorexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge, increase RR and respiratory effort, edema forelimbs and chest
What are the clinical signs of pneumonia in horses
cough,
fever,
lethargy +/- anorexia mucopurulent nasal discharge
Increased RR +/- effort
What are the clinical signs of pleuropneumonia in horses
often no/mild cough, fever,
severe lethargy, anorexia, mucopurulent nasal discharge,
increase RR and respiratory effort, edema forelimbs and chest
What is the pathogenesis of pneumonia in horses
1) Airways exposed to >10,000 L of air/day (dust, chemicals, microorganisms)
2) >10um dont get past upper resp, 3-10um get removed via mucociliary, 1-5um are able to get to lower airway to cause disease
3) Overwhelming of defense mechanisms (anesthesia, drugs, viral infection, toxic gases, congestion, edema, secretion
What are the airway defense mechanisms
Upper airway: coughing, sneezing, swallowing
Trachea: Mucociliary clearance
Lower airway: phagocytic cells, cellular immunity, humoral immunity
What might result in loss of cough, leading to impaired defense mechanism against respiratory pathogens *
-Anesthesia
-Neuromuscular
-Drugs
-Pain
What might result in loss of epithelium (mucociliary clearance) leading to impaired defense against pathogens *
-Viral infection
-Toxic gases (eg. ammonia)
What might result of lowering of lower airway defense mechanisms (phagocytic cells, cellular immunity, and humoral immunity) leading to impaired defense against pathogens *
Loss of clearance:
1) congestion
2) edema
3) secretion
What are common bacterial etiologies of pneumonia in horses
Gram +:
-Strep. zooepidemicus*
-Strep pneumoniae
-Rhodococcus equi (foals)
-Strep. equi (rare)
Gram -:
-Pasteurella spp.
-E. coli
-Enterobacter spp.
-Klebsiella spp.
Commonly, pleuropneumonia occurs as
an extension of pneumonia into the thoracic cavity
exceptions: penetrative trauma
What is the pathogenesis of equine pleuropneumonia
1) Exudative stage: increased permeability and leakage of sterile fluid into the cavity
2) Fibropurulent stage: bacterial invasion, WBC transmigration, and fibrin deposition.
3) Organization stage: Fibroblast growth, Inelastic membrane forms= pleural peel
Pleural peel
inelastic membrane as a result of pleuropneumonia that is permanent and impairs lung function
What are common etiologies of pleuropneumonia in horses
Gram -: Pasteurella spp., E coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella
Gram +: S. zooepidemicus
Anaerobes: Clostridium spp and Bacteroides spp.
Good drugs: broad spectrum like Metronidazole or (Penicillin and Aminoglycoside)
What is a good drug for pleuropneumonia in horses *
broad spectrum like Metronidazole or (Penicillin and Aminoglycoside combo)
Bacteroides are often resistant to penicillin so a combo of these three are used
What kind of things do you hear on thoracic auscultation of a horse with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia
Rebreathing exam: lung sounds, tracheal sounds, cough, tolerance, recovery
Secretion sounds, crackles and wheezes, lung sounds, no or only bronchial sounds, cardiac sounds over wider area
What do you see on bloodwork of a horse with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia *
-Inflammatory leukogram
-Neutrophilia (or neutropenia if early on)
-Hypergamma-globulinemia (Increased plasma protein)
-Increased fibrinogen
What do you see on radiograph of a horse with pneumonia
alveolar pattern (classical)
air-bronchogram
What do you see on radiograph of a horse with pleuropneumonia
often unrewarding (effusion is present)
What do you see on ultrasound of a horse with pneumonia
Comet-tails- take with a grain of salt, might be because horse is older but then to be more cranioventral
Consolidation
Abscessation
What do you see on ultrasound of a horse with pleuropneumonia
Consolidation- increased intrathoracic pressure (Exudative sage
Fibrin deposits and abscesses that form
How do you obtain a sample for culture in horses with pneumonia
Transtracheal* wash or transendoscopic wash to get the bugs in the trachea
What is the best method to get a sample for pneumonia
transtracheal wash
gets cells and secretions from the distal smaller airways. If done blind, the disease process must be diffuse. Superior for small airway cytology
Broncho-alveolar lavage
procedure for non-homogenous sample of cells and debris from anywhere in the distal airways. Superior for focal disease and culture
tracheal wash
What method if best for small airway cytology in horses
Bronchoalveolar lavage
What method if best for focal disease and culture of horses with pneumonia
tracheal wash
How should you perform a tracheal aspirate/ wash in horses
1) Ideally, prior to ABC administration or stop ABC for 24-72 hours
2) Cytology +/- gram stain, fluid analysis (color, turbidity, small, cell count, protein, cytology, culture)
3) Aerobic and anaerobic culture
What should you do if you see a horse with fluid in thoracic cavity
thoracocentesis 6th or 7th ICs, U/S guided if possible
How should you do antimicrobial therapy for horses with pneumonia and pleuropneumonia *
Ideally: culture and sensitivity
Broad spectrum: gram +/- and anaerobes
long term administration
antimicrobial treatment of anaerobes usually empiric
Metronidazole
(Penicillin and Aminoglycodes
What are the different inflammatory, non-infectious airway conditions in horses
1) Mild to Moderate Equine Asthma: Inflammatory airway disease (generally younger horses)
2) Severe Equine Asthma: Recurrent airway obstruction (ROA/ Heaves): older horse >7 years of age
Inflammatory airway disease is _________and generally occurs in
mild to moderate equine asthma
generally in younger horses
Recurrent airway obstriction is ________- and generally occurs in
severe equine asthma “Heaves”
older horses >7 years
What is the clinical presentation of horses with asthma
Mild equine asthma: exercise intolerance, prolonged recovery, occasional cough, +/- nasal discharge
Moderate asthma: exercise intolerance, prolonged recovery, occasional cough, +/- nasal discharge
Severe asthma: expiratory dyspnea, heave line, coughing , respiratory compromise at rest
What is the clinical presentation of severe equine asthma
expiratory dyspnea leading to heave line (hypertrophy of expiratory muscles), coughing , respiratory compromise at rest
What type of hypersensitivity is associated with heaves
Type I (IgE mediated) hypersensitivity to inhaled antigens
What causes heaves (RAO)
Type I (IgE mediated) hypersensitivity to inhaled antigens
What is the pathophysiology of heaves
1) Type I (IgE mediated) hypersensitivity to inhaled antigens
2) Airway obstruction caused by
a) Mucous production (hypersecretion by goblet cells)
b) Neutrophil accumulation
c) Bronchoconstriction via inflammatory mediators and autonomic NS
*Hyperresponsive to nonspecific stimuli (cold air, road dust)
What causes the airway obstruction in heaves
a) Mucous production (hypersecretion by goblet cells)
b) Neutrophil accumulation
c) Bronchoconstriction via inflammatory mediators and autonomic NS
Horses with heaves are hyperresponsive to
nonspecific stimuli (cold air, road dust)
You do a bronchial lavage of a horse with heaves. What will you see on cytology?
Horses with RAO will have 50-70% neutrophils (Normal is <5%)
Positively correlated to hypoxia, pulmonary function (high resistance, poor lung compliance), and airway hyperreactivity
Why do you see more neutrophils with RAO horses
Horses with RAO will have 50-70% neutrophils (Normal is <5-10%) on BAL cytology
correlated to disease severity
Positively correlated to hypoxia, pulmonary function (high resistance, poor lung compliance), and airway hyperreactivity
What is the pathophysiology of inflaamatory airway disease in horses (mild form)
unclear etiology but
dust exposure?- positive correlation to stabling
viral infection
bacterial infection
parasitic
most likely multiple etiologies
Three forms
Eosinophilic (5-40%) form
Mixed (Neutrophilia, Lymphocytosis, Monocytosis)
Mast cell (>2% mast cells)
What is the point of doing hematology and biochemistry in horses with respiratory disease
used to rule out pneumonia (neutrophilia, hyperfibrinogenemia, etc.)
if normal, think of asthma
T/F: radiology is important in diagnosis equine asthma
False- often unrewarding but you can use it to rule out pneumonia
T/F: endoscopy is important in diagnosis of equine asthma
false- fluid accumulation and airway mucous is a common sign but not specific to asthma
bronchoscopy might be more helpful to see hyperactivity bronchi though but still not very useful
Is tracheal wash or BAL more helpful for equine asthma diagnosis
BAL is the best- cells and secretions from the distal smaller airways. If done blind disease process must be diffuse. Superior for small airway cytology
Why do you use BAL for equine asthma diagnosis
BAL is the best- cells and secretions from the distal smaller airways. If done blind disease process must be diffuse. Superior for small airway cytology
*It is diffuse condition and doesnt necessarily matter where you sample, it can be blind
Cytological evaluation of RAO
look for neutrophilic inflammation
-tracheal aspirate RAO: opportunisitic MO
-Culture indiciated if BAL sample shows degenerative cells of intracellular bacteria
How do you treat horses with RAO and IAD
Environment: monst important, minimize exposure to mold, dust, endotoxin
Most important sources is hay and bedding*
Maintained at pasture, pelleted feed supplement
Control dust exposure (stall cleaning, feeding, and eating)
Medical Treatment:
Corticosteroid
Bronchodilator (ie albuterol
*Choice depends of severity of signs, cytological results, financial means, owner compliance
What is the most important sources of mold, dust, and endotoxin that you want to control in horses with RAO and IAD
Hay (Round bale hay has the most dust) and bedding
*Maintain at pasture and pelleted feed supplement
*Control dust exposure (stall cleaning, feeding, eating, indoor arenas, road dust)
Albuterol is a
bronchodilator
can be used to open the airways in equine asthma
Most management is environmental but what do you use for medical therapy in horses with asthma
Corticosteroids
a) *Systemic administration- more powerful than inhaled but greater risk of systemic complications (laminitis, infection)
b) Aerosolized delivery- short acting, not prolonged benefit
Bronchodilators
a) Systemic administration- greater risk of adverse effect (excitation, tachycardia, sweating)
b) *Aerosolized delivery- more powerful than systemic but expensive
What is a metered dose inhalant (MDI) system
rapid administration aerosolized drug therapy
consistent dose delivery
minimal risk of pulmonary contamination with environmental microorganisms
no maintenance is required
no electricity required
widely available
Clenbuterol is a
Beta 2 agonist for long term therapy of equine asthma
used in combination with corticosteroids
monotherapy results in downregulation or desensitization of b2 receptors (treatment failure)
What does monotherapy of clenbuterol or albuterol result in?
monotherapy results in downregulation or desensitization of b2 receptors (treatment failure)
Albuterol is a
Beta 2 agonist for long term therapy of equine asthma
used in combination with corticosteroids
monotherapy results in downregulation or desensitization of b2 receptors (treatment failure)
Competition horses being treated for asthma have to
zerol tolerance
horses have to come off steroids and bronchodilators