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Field Investigation of Poor Performance in Thoroughbred Racehorses
Author(s) -
Van Erck Westergren E,
Richard E,
Audrey A,
Art T,
Lekeux P
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_44
Subject(s) - medicine , subclinical infection , blood sampling , respiratory system , cardiology , gastroenterology
Racehorses suffering from subclinical diseases are frequently kept in training until they fail expectations during competition. The diagnosis of medical causes of poor performance remains challenging in the field. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of subclinical causes of poor performance in working Thoroughbreds ( TB ) and to determine which clinical field tests could most appropriately identify them. Methods During the course of a training session, a complete clinical screening was performed in 11 healthy controls ( C ) and 38 poor performing ( PP ) TB without obvious clinical signs. Exercising ECG and GPS monitoring, blood sample analysis including oxidative stress markers, Doppler echocardiography, respiratory function testing ( RFT ), post‐exercise endoscopy, tracheal wash ( TW ) and broncho‐alveolar lavage ( BAL ) were performed. Statistics included ANOVA and Spearman's test (P<0.05). Results Subclinical causes of PP included muscular, respiratory and cardiac disorders. Variables derived from velocity and HR showed significant differences between groups. Lower airway diseases ( LAD ) were the most frequently diagnosed (33/38), causing significant differences in RFT . Endoscopic observations correlated with TW cytology, but unlike BAL analysis, were insufficient to diagnose all LAD cases. Supra‐ or ventricular premature beats were present only in the PP group but were not associated with echocardiographic abnormalities. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly lower in PP . Conclusions Velocity, ECG and HR monitoring during a training session can be used as non‐specific predictive indicators of performance, help assess functional consequences of diseases and guide ancillary diagnostic investigations. As LAD is highly prevalent, BAL sampling would be indicated in any case of poor performance. Ethical Animal Research The study was approved by the Ethical committee of the U niversity of L iege. E xplicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated. Sources of funding: U niversity of L iege, F rank D uncombe L aboratory and the French Haras Nationaux. Competing interests: none.