Equine Veterinary Journal最新文献

{"title":"A comparative evaluation of seven commercial human influenza virus antigen detection kits for the diagnosis of equine influenza.","authors":"Nanako Kawanishi, Yuta Kinoshita, Stephanie E Reedy, Marie Garvey, Yoshinori Kambayashi, Hiroshi Bannai, Koji Tsujimura, Takashi Yamanaka, Ann Cullinane, Thomas M Chambers, Manabu Nemoto","doi":"10.1111/evj.14500","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14500","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Equine influenza virus (EIV) is one of the most important pathogens causing respiratory signs in equids. Rapid antigen detection (RAD) kits are useful for point-of-care testing because they are user-friendly and provide fast results. Although sensitive and broad-reactive RAD kits are needed for controlling horse movement, no RAD kits specified for EIV are available.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluated the usefulness of seven RAD kits originally developed for human influenza and available in Japan during 2023-2024 for EIV antigen detection.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Experimental assay comparison.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The detection limits of each RAD kit were determined using five-fold serial dilutions of two H3N8 EIV strains. According to the results of the detection limits, the three most sensitive RAD kits (Quick Chaser Auto Flu A, B, Finevision Influenza, and RapidTesta Flu·NEXT) were further evaluated using nasopharyngeal swabs of horses experimentally infected with EIV.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>With reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) as a reference assay, the sensitivities of Quick Chaser Auto Flu A, B, RapidTesta Flu·NEXT, and Finevision Influenza were 63%, 61%, and 54%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Main limitation: </strong>Samples from naturally infected horses were not tested.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Since the sensitivities for detecting EIV antigens vary, choosing the appropriate RAD kits is essential. Although RAD kits are less sensitive than RT-qPCR, RAD kits are useful for detecting EIV antigens as ancillary diagnostic tools in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of vatinoxan on gastrointestinal motility, sedation, and antinociception during and after long-lasting detomidine infusion in horses.","authors":"Bartlomiej Obrochta, Heidi Tapio, Marja Raekallio, Luis Alfonso Gracia Calvo, Rebecca Rivera Pöyhönen, Kati Hagman, Noora Jantunen, Ninja Karikoski","doi":"10.1111/evj.14499","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14499","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sedation in horses is typically achieved using alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, although their use is associated with multiple side effects. A peripheral alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, vatinoxan, can alleviate many of these.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the effects of vatinoxan infusion on gastrointestinal motility, sedation, and antinociception in horses sedated with detomidine infusion.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Randomised, blinded cross-over in vivo experiments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eight horses were given two 4-h infusions: detomidine (0.01 mg/kg + 0.015 mg/kg/h IV) (DET) and a combination of detomidine and vatinoxan (0.15 mg/kg + 0.05 mg/kg/h IV) (DET + VAT). Plastic marker balls were administered via nasogastric entubation before the start of the infusion. Borborygmi score was monitored. The expelling of balls and faecal output were repeatedly monitored for 72 h after the infusion. Sedation score (SS) and antinociception were monitored during the infusion.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Borborygmi score remained significantly higher during DET + VAT infusion and the following hour than with DET (p < 0.05) at different time points. Median (range) cumulative weight of faeces was significantly higher with DET + VAT [6.25 kg (3.52-8.65)] than with DET [2.85 kg (1.7-6.6)] (p = 0.007) during the first 8 h after the end of infusion. The markers were expelled significantly faster after DET (mean AUC_12-72 3928 ± 1620) than after DET + VAT (mean AUC_12-72 2460 ± 1199) infusion (p = 0.02). All animals were appropriately sedated. Median SS was significantly lower at 60 min during DET + VAT [7 (5-7)] than during DET [7.5 (7, 8)] (p = 0.04). No other significant differences were detected in SS or antinociception between treatments.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Vatinoxan significantly improved the borborygmi score. Horses treated with DET + VAT passed more faeces in the initial period after infusion, although the expelling of plastic balls was faster with DET. Combining vatinoxan with detomidine infusion may slightly reduce the level of sedation in the initial phase of infusion. Vatinoxan may improve gastrointestinal motility in horses treated with detomidine infusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143662925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental comparison of caudal wedge ostectomy to cranial wedge ostectomy for surgical treatment of overriding/impinging spinous processes in horses.","authors":"Maurice Thomas Connaughton, Eilidh Janet MacDonald, Jo L Ireland, Guido Rocchigiani, John David Stack","doi":"10.1111/evj.14498","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14498","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Caudal wedge ostectomy has not been investigated for overriding or impinging spinous processes (SPs).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To establish the feasibility of caudal wedge ostectomy and compare measures of surgical trauma and error between hypothetical caudal and cranial wedge ostectomies on SPs of different inclinations.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Experimental, method comparison study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Computed tomography and caudal wedge ostectomy surgery were performed on four cadavers. Observations, technical difficulties, and surgical errors were recorded. Radiographs from 67 horses with overriding/impinging SPs were reviewed. Hypothetical 'ideal' caudal and cranial wedge ostectomies, and 'error' ostectomies 12° from ideal, were drawn at sites of impingement. Ostectomy area/SP width, ostectomy length/SP width, absolute difference of exit angles (angle ostectomy exits the SP) from 90°, and number of error ostectomies failing to exit the SP (never-ending-cuts [NEC]) were calculated. Continuous variables were compared between techniques in caudally and cranially inclined SP groups using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Proportions of NEC were compared using McNemar's tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No surgical errors were recorded with caudal wedge ostectomy. Median ostectomy area/SP width was lower for caudal versus cranial wedge ostectomy in caudally (14.32, interquartile-range [IQR] 9.72-20.34 vs. 25.57, IQR 17.74-33.06; p < 0.001) and cranially inclined SP groups (11.78, IQR 7.98-17.19 vs. 19.62, IQR 13.65-28.68; p < 0.001). Median difference in exit angles from 90° was smaller for caudal versus cranial wedge ostectomies in caudally (34.77°, IQR 26.85°-45.91° vs. 67.54°, IQR 58.13°-74.55°; p < 0.001) and cranially inclined SP groups (49.14°, IQR 35.61°-59.33° vs. 62.84°, IQR 55.34°-70.61°; p < 0.001). The proportion of NEC was lower for caudal versus cranial wedge ostectomy in caudally (37.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 29.4%-45.8%; n = 50/133 vs. 96.2%, 95% CI 93.0%-99.5%; n = 128/133; p < 0.001), but not in cranially inclined SP groups (76.8%, 95% CI 70.9%-82.7%; n = 152/198 vs. 84.3%, 95% CI 79.3%-89.4%, n = 167/198; p = 0.06).</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>Potential bias drawing 'ideal' ostectomy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Experimentally, caudal wedge ostectomy was feasible, removed less bone, and resulted in fewer NEC in caudally inclined SPs. Further investigation of the technique is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143662853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors for superficial digital flexor tendinopathy in Thoroughbred racehorses in South Korea (2015-2019).","authors":"Yungi Choi, Tim Parkin","doi":"10.1111/evj.14493","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14493","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendinopathy is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases in Thoroughbreds and a major cause of retirement from racing among racehorses in South Korea. However, there are no previous epidemiological studies on SDF tendinopathy-related risk factors for racehorses in South Korea. The interventions derived from such a study could reduce the occurrence of SDF tendinopathy and, therefore, extend horses' racing careers.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To identify the risk factors associated with SDF tendinopathy for Thoroughbreds in South Korea.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective case-control study (2015-2019).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 101 Thoroughbreds that were diagnosed with SDF tendinopathy following a recorded fast-exercise (training gallop, trial racing, racing) between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. Additionally, 304 healthy Thoroughbreds (319 events) with at least one recorded fast-exercise between 2015 and 2019 were also included as controls. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for SDF tendinopathy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SDF tendinopathy was significantly more likely to be diagnosed after racing or trial racing than after galloping. Horses with lower grades (6, ungraded) based on racing performance were associated with a higher risk of SDFT injuries. An increased risk of SDFT injury was observed with fewer gallop training days in the previous 60 days to the last fast-exercise, more canter training days in the previous 180 days, or having a period of no fast-exercise for over 90 days in the year prior to the event.</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>Information on the distance and speed of gallop training was not available.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The implementation of risk profiling and other preventive measures for horses with fewer gallop training days before racing could help minimise the number of horses sustaining SDF tendinopathy.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Survey on 9 years of anti-doping controls in horse races in Italy.","authors":"Mariana Roccaro, Riccardo Rinnovati, Luca Stucchi, Federica La Rocca, Giuseppe Cascio, Angelo Peli","doi":"10.1111/evj.14496","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14496","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Doping in racehorses is a threat to horse welfare and the integrity of the sport. Despite its relevance, the literature on the prevalence of anti-doping violations worldwide is limited.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To analyse anti-doping violations in racehorses in Italy.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective observational study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on horse races, anti-doping testing, and confirmed violations between 2014 and 2022 were collected and analysed. Positivity rates, most common drug classes and parent drugs, and differences between trotting and galloping horses were investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the considered 9-year timeframe, the national laboratory analysed a total of 104,770 samples. A total of 536 horses were confirmed to be positive (92.8% positivity rate at second analysis). The average prevalence over the years was 0.48 ± 0.15% in trotters and 0.50 ± 0.15% in gallopers. Seventy-seven parent drugs, belonging to 29 different drug classes, were detected. The five most represented drug classes were steroidal anti-inflammatories (19.0%), stimulants (16.4%), NSAIDs (15.5%), anabolic steroids (9.9%) and sedatives (9.7%). The five most frequent substances were dexamethasone (8.4%), cocaine (7.1%), testosterone (6.5%), caffeine (5.6%) and theophylline (4.1%).</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>Our data derive from official analyses performed in compliance with the national regulation on anti-doping controls in racehorses; information on the concentration of the detected analytes was not available. Testing only the best-placed horses does not allow for correlating drug administration and improved performance; horses with less chance of winning might slip through the control system with negative consequences on their welfare.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The percentage of confirmed doping violations in horse races in Italy in the 9 years (2014-2022) evaluated in this study was low (0.49 ± 0.15%). Considering the drug classes found most frequently, violations might have been more often the consequence of deliberate administration rather than accidental feed contamination.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143623904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dobutamine improves haemodynamics and oxygen delivery in standing and isoflurane-anaesthetised horses.","authors":"Emma B Gorenberg, JoAnn Slack, Darko Stefanovski, DeAnna Theiss, Klaus Hopster","doi":"10.1111/evj.14488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14488","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dobutamine is a first-line therapy for hypotension in anaesthetised horses, but the effects on haemodynamic parameters in standing and anaesthetised horses are not well studied.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate the effects of dobutamine in escalating dosages on haemodynamic performance in awake and anaesthetised horses.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Randomised cross-over experimental study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Six healthy adult horses were enrolled, including both standing and isoflurane-anaesthetised experiments with 1-week washout. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, and thermodilution cardiac output (CO) were measured at baseline and at dobutamine infusion rates of 0.5, 1, and 2 mcg/kg/min. Arterial and mixed-venous blood was sampled, and oxygen delivery (DO₂), oxygen extraction ratio (O₂ ER), and fShunt were calculated. After confirming normal distribution, variables were compared with baseline and between groups using two-factorial ANOVA (alpha = 5%).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MAP increased significantly during dobutamine infusion in both groups (Standing 92 ± 8 to 119 ± 8 mmHg, p < 0.001; Anaesthetised 58 ± 12 to 91 ± 16 mmHg, p < 0.001), and was significantly higher in awake versus anaesthetised horses at all time points (p < 0.001). CO increased significantly during dobutamine infusion (Standing 39 ± 5 to 68 ± 5 L/min, p < 0.001; Anaesthetised 21 ± 2 to 38 ± 3 L/min, p < 0.001), and was significantly higher in standing horses (p < 0.001). DO₂ (p < 0.001) increased significantly, and O₂ ER (p < 0.001) decreased significantly in both groups with dobutamine infusion. FShunt (p = 0.02) decreased significantly during dobutamine infusion in anaesthetised horses.</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>Small sample size; study performed in a lateral recumbency.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Dobutamine produces a dose-dependent increase in CO and MAP and improves DO₂ under standing and isoflurane-anaesthetised conditions. Dobutamine dosages of 2 mcg/kg/min reach standing baseline MAP and CO.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143572547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Start ‘em young, treat ‘em right: How horses’ early life experiences can set them up for success in life","authors":"Gemma Pearson,&nbsp;Janet Douglas","doi":"10.1111/evj.14485","DOIUrl":"10.1111/evj.14485","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;At what age is a horse ready to be trained and ridden? The answer to this question—which has long been debated—has become more complex in recent years as concerns that were historically based almost solely on horses' physical capacity have been replaced by a growing emphasis on their mental welfare. At a workshop held at the Jockey Club, Newmarket and co-hosted by Beaufort Cottage Educational Trust and the Graf Lehnsdorff Institute for Equine Science, this subject was discussed with a wide range of stakeholders.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The recognition that evaluation of animals' welfare should be based primarily on how they feel has numerous consequences. It is feeding into assessment of the ethical implications of all that we do with and to animals. It is affecting the public's opinion of equestrianism—the sport's so-called ‘social licence to operate’. And it is influencing legislation. A pertinent example is the German government's recent introduction of legislation&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/span&gt; that makes it illegal to train or compete a horse that is &lt;30 months of age—with a temporary derogation for racing pending the results of ongoing research. All those who would like equestrian sport to continue as a legitimate enterprise should take particular note of this last point, given the strong link between public disaffection with an endeavour and ensuing restrictive legislation.&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Currently, within equestrianism, the most popular framework for assessing an animal's welfare is the five domains model.&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/span&gt; This model (Figure 1) encourages us to interpret the animal's experience in each of four physical/functional domains within the context of how this impacts their mental state. It recognises that although physical health is undoubtedly important, other factors should be given similar consideration as they are also able to affect how an animal feels. This holistic overview of how an animal feels about multiple aspects of their life allows us to assess the balance of their positive and negative mental states—an important consideration given the growing demand from welfare scientists, the public, and many of those within equestrianism that horses live ‘good lives’,&lt;span&gt;&lt;sup&gt;4-7&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/span&gt; rather than those that are merely ‘lives worth living’.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Given the growing focus of both welfare scientists and the public on animal sentience and mental welfare, in this editorial we will set aside any discussion of horses' physical readiness for training and competition and concentrate instead on their mental maturity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Before we can discuss horses' mental readiness for training, we need to consider what the term ‘mental maturity’ actually means in this species. Horses' cognitive abilities and emotional drivers are very different from those of humans so we cannot just import concepts from human work. This is partly because humans (and a number of species with which many of us choose to spend our time, including dogs) a","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":"57 3","pages":"540-545"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/evj.14485","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to “Respiratory oscillometry testing in relation to exercise in healthy and asthmatic Thoroughbreds”","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/evj.14494","DOIUrl":"10.1111/evj.14494","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Bizzotto D, Dellacà R, Lavoie J-P, Ferrucci F. Respiratory oscillometry testing in relation to exercise in healthy and asthmatic Thoroughbreds. Equine Vet J. 2025;57(1):28–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14065</p><p>The funding statement for this article was missing. The below funding statement has been added to the Acknowledgements section of the article:</p><p>Open access publishing facilitated by Universita degli Studi di Sassari, as part of the Wiley–CRUI-CARE agreement.</p><p>We apologise for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":"57 3","pages":"817"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/evj.14494","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143566056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Minimising feeding behaviour interference: A hay-shaker device to assess dust exposure in horses.","authors":"Virginie Marie Angèle Bouverat, Jan Naef, Gaudenz Dolf, Inès Lamon, Sophie Elena Sage, Vinzenz Gerber","doi":"10.1111/evj.14492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Organic dust from hay is a primary trigger of equine asthma.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>(1) To introduce a novel hay-shaker (HS) device for standardised hay dust generation, enabling simultaneous measurements of various particulate matter (PM) size fractions. (2) To compare these measurements with those in the horse's breathing zone (BZ) to assess the influence of environmental and individual factors.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Comparative experimental study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A HS generating dust was developed. Total dust (PMT) and size fractions (PM1, PM2.5, PM4 and PM10, representing particle size in μm) were measured from 50 hay samples provided by clients using an aerosol monitor (DustTrak DRX 8534) in the HS (HS-PMx) and the BZ (BZ-PMx) of 50 horses (26 healthy, 24 asthmatic) during hay feeding. Linear regression analysis evaluated the relationship between HS-PMx and ln BZ-PMx for each fraction, accounting for environmental (humidity, temperature) and individual factors (horse characteristics and feeding behaviour, assessed with the Hay Contact Score).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The HS generated measurable dust across all PM sizes. Regression models explained 69% to 73% of ln BZ-PMx variance, showing a weak positive association between HS-PMx and ln BZ-PMx across all size fractions. Hay Contact Score had the strongest positive association with ln BZ-PMx. Cohort, ambient temperature and humidity were negatively associated with ln BZ-PMx for certain particle sizes. The final model, incorporating HS-PM4, Hay Contact Score, cohort, temperature, and humidity as predictors, demonstrated robust predictive accuracy for BZ-PM4 (adjusted R² = 0.73).</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>Clinical impact of hay dust and poor-quality hay was not assessed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The HS reliably generates hay dust for measuring standard PM fractions, particularly respirable PM4, critical to equine respiratory health. BZ dust concentrations are significantly influenced by feeding behaviour. The HS offers a standardised method for assessing hay quality, enabling informed decisions on hay selection to support respiratory health in stabled horses.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143540693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of heart rate variability, exercise intensity and exercising arrhythmias with competition results in eventing horses.","authors":"Cristobal Navas de Solis, Alessandra Ramseyer, Darko Stefanovski, Joanne Haughan, Claire J Solomon, Katharina Kirsch","doi":"10.1111/evj.14491","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Exercising arrhythmias are common in horses participating in eventing competitions. Heart rate variability (HRV) and a specific measure of the degree of heart rate fluctuation (Detrended Fluctuation Analysis alpha1; DFA-α1) are proposed as exercise intensity and fatigue markers.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>(1) To describe exercising arrhythmias and DFA-α1 values during 2-4* level eventing cross-country competitions in horses from two European countries; (2) to identify associations between exercising arrhythmias, DFA-α1 and competition results and (3) to evaluate whether markers of the intensity of exercise are associated with exercising arrhythmias, DFA-α1 or competition results.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convenience sample of exercising ECGs and competition results from horses during cross-country eventing competitions was examined. Statistical analysis was conducted using multivariable mixed-effects logistic, Poisson and linear regression models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Arrhythmias were frequent during 69 cross-country competition ECGs from 43 horses. Detrended fluctuation analysis α1 was not associated with performance during cross-country, but a higher DFA-α1 during cross-country was associated with fewer showjumping phase penalties. More premature complexes, the presence of complex arrhythmias and arrhythmias during recovery were associated with fewer time penalties during cross-country. The presence of complex arrhythmias and arrhythmias during recovery of the cross-country phase was associated with more penalties during the showjumping phase. Higher blood lactate concentration, higher HR_peak and higher HR_mean were associated with fewer time penalties during cross-country.</p><p><strong>Main limitations: </strong>The arrhythmias observed do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the consequences of more severe arrhythmias. The associations described here were often of small magnitude or with large confidence intervals and must be interpreted cautiously.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Arrhythmias during the cross-country test of eventing competitions were frequently associated with positive competition results during the cross-country phase and negative results during the showjumping phase. The specific arrhythmia types and circumstances that should raise concern about performance and safety remain relevant but unanswered questions for equine practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":11796,"journal":{"name":"Equine Veterinary Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143500080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}