Serum concentration of surfactant protein D in horses with lower airway inflammation

in Equine Veterinary Journal (2012), 44

Reasons for performing study: Surfactant protein D (SP-D), mainly synthesised by alveolar type II cells and nonciliated bronchiolar cells, is one important component of innate pulmonary immunity. In man ... [more ▼]

Reasons for performing study: Surfactant protein D (SP-D), mainly synthesised by alveolar type II cells and nonciliated bronchiolar cells, is one important component of innate pulmonary immunity. In man, circulating concentrations of SP-D are routinely used as biomarkers for pulmonary injury. To date, serum SP-D levels have only been investigated in horses in an experimental model of bacterial airway infection. Objectives: To compare serum SP-D concentrations at rest and after exercise in horses with and without inflammatory airway disease (IAD). Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 42 Standardbred racehorses at rest and 60 min after performing a standardised treadmill exercise test. Tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected after exercise. Based on BALF cytology, 22 horses were defined as IAD-affected and 20 classified as controls. Serum SP-D concentrations were assessed using a commercially available ELISA kit and statistically compared between groups of horses and sampling times. Results: Serum concentrations of SP-D in IAD-affected horses were significantly higher than those of control horses, both at rest and after exercise. Within the IAD-affected group, no significant correlation was found between serum SP-D concentrations and BALF cytology. Within each group of horses (IAD and control), no significant influence of exercise was found on serum SP-D levels. Conclusions: This is the first study determining serum SP-D concentrations in a noninfectious, naturally occurring form of lower airway inflammation in horses. The results highlight that IAD is associated with a detectable, though moderate, increase of circulating SP-D levels. Potential relevance: Serum concentration of surfactant protein D could represent a potentially valuable and readily accessible blood biomarker of equine lower airway inflammation [less ▲]

Mesure de la respiration musculaire par respirométrie à haute résolution

in Pratique Vétérinaire Equine (2011), 43(170), 35-37

This technical note describes the reference method for screening the mitochondrial function in horses.

Herpesviruses in respiratory liquids of horses : putative implication in airway inflammation and association with cytological features

in Veterinary Microbiology (2009), 139

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and the potential role of equine herpesviruses (EHVs) detection in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tracheal wash (TW). The population ... [more ▼]

The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence and the potential role of equine herpesviruses (EHVs) detection in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and tracheal wash (TW). The population included a control group (CTL; 37 TW and 25 BAL) and a pathological group (PAT; 259 TW and 387 BAL), including horses either suffering from respiratory diseases including syndrome of tracheal inflammation, inflammatory airway disease, recurrent airway obstruction, or submitted to respiratory investigation because of exercise intolerance or poor performance. Each respiratory liquid was submitted to a standardised cytological analysis, mentioning the morphological abnormalities of exfoliated epithelial cells (ECAb) and ciliocytophthoria (CCPh) as markers of potential viral infection, as well as PCR assays including a consensus PCR and virus-specific PCR for both equine alphaherpesviruses (EHV-1; EHV-4) and gammaherpesviruses (EHV-2; EHV-5). The EHV infections were more prevalent in the TW of PAT group (P = 0.004), with the highest prevalence being for EHV-2 (P = 0.006). The EHV detection in BALs was not significantly different between groups. The EHVs detection in TW was correlated to the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) counts in the respiratory liquid but not with CCPh or ECAb. CCPh or ECAb were associated with both consensus PCR and EHV-2 and EHV-5 virus-type PCR in the BAL only. The significant detection of EHVs in the TWof PAT group in association with the PMN increased counts could lead to further investigations about their putative role in equine syndrome of tracheal inflammation [less ▲]

Comment investiguer la contre-performance d’origine médicale : de la clinique au laboratoire

in 35ème Journée de la Recherche équine (2009)

Clinical affections of the locomotor and respiratory systems are the two main causes of poor performance in sport horses. Nevertheless, each subclinical affection of any system implicated in the oxygen ... [more ▼]

Clinical affections of the locomotor and respiratory systems are the two main causes of poor performance in sport horses. Nevertheless, each subclinical affection of any system implicated in the oxygen system (respiratory, cardiovascular, blood, muscular and metabolic) may also become a limiting factor concerning the athletic capacities of the horse. A systematic medical examination of the horse, combining ail the clinical and laboratory exams, is thus necessary in order to establish a precise and comprehensive diagnosis regarding the different affections. The objectives of this communication are therefore to present the different methods currently available for the practitioner as well as the techniques recently developed for horses. The complementarity of the different clinical and laboratory exams, as well as the ideal moment for performing each test are clarified in order to accurately determine the different causes of poor performance as well as their functional repercussions [less ▲]

Evaluation de la condition physique chez le cheval d’endurance : comparaison d’un test de terrain adapté et d’un test sur tapis roulant

in 36èmes Journées AVEF (2008)