8.2.2: Equine asthma Flashcards

1
Q

How do we categorise equine asthma?

A
  • Mild-moderate equine asthma (IAD)
  • Severe equine asthma (RAO)

Equine asthma was formerly known as broken wind, heaves, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), inflammatiry airway disease)

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2
Q

True/false: in mild-moderate equine asthma, there are subtle clinical signs at rest.

A

False
Only in severe equine asthma are there signs at rest.

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16
Q

On cytology for severe asthma, neutrophils make up what % of the TNCC?

A

25%

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17
Q

On cytology for mild-moderate asthma, neutrophils make up what percentage of the TNCC?

A

10-25%
We also see increased mast cells in mild-moderate asthma

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18
Q

True/false: all horses which have mild asthma will eventually develop into those with severe asthma.

A

False
Not all horses will mild form show progression to severe form

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19
Q

Aetiology of equine asthma

A
  • Strong association with environment and feeding
  • Mechanisms are poorly understood
  • It is a non-allergic inflammatory response e.g. to endotoxins, moulds, noxious gases; but there can also be an allergic reaction component that involves Type I and Type III hypersensitivity
  • There seems to be a familial risk for moderate and severe equine asthma so some suggest genetic testing should be performed
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20
Q

How can environment and feeding impact equine asthma?

A
  • Airborne respiratory dust (ARD) causes and exacerbates the disease
  • Some particles in the breathing zone and stable zone, if small enough (<5µm) will make it into the lower airways but not back out - these particles e.g. moulds and fungi trigger disease
  • There is a lower concentration of these in steamed hay
  • Hay dust exacerbates asthma - even a horse in remission can be affected
  • Higher concentrations from nets (4x higher respirable dust)
  • The breathing zone is 30cm around the horse’s nose
21
Q

Which organisms may play a role in the hypersensitivity allergic reactions that may come with asthma?

A
  • Faenia rectivirgula
  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Thermoactivenomyces vulgaris
22
Q

Pathophysiology of equine asthma

A
  • Airway hyper-responsiveness
  • Bronchospasm
  • Inflammation
  • Mucus accumulation
  • Tissue remodelling
23
Q

Discuss how bronchospasm occurs in equine asthma

A
  • Occurs secondary to inflammation
  • Bronchodilators are effective
24
Q

Discuss the signs of inflammation we can see on cytology of the horse with equine asthma

A
  • Airway neutrophilia
  • Activation of macrophages occurs
25
Q

Describe how mucus accumulation plays a role in equine asthma

A
  • Consistent finding in equine asthma
  • Perhaps associated with the neutrophilia but not sure
  • Long persistence (even during remission)
  • Exacerbations increase viscoelasticity (and just generally will increase the production of mucus by goblet cells)
26
Q

Describe how tissue remodelling plays a role in equine asthma

A
  • Increased smooth muscle mass -> increased contraction force
  • Peribronchial fibrosis
  • Epithelial hyperplasia
  • Bronchiectasis: inflow of air into some segments of lower airways, and outflow impaired by these issues. This means there is too much air in the alveoli -> they burst and form larger balloon-like structures
27
Q

Which small particles (<5µm) can cause disease?

A
  • Moulds and fungi
  • Pollen
  • Endotoxins
  • Chemicals: ammonia, smoke, exhaust fumes
28
Q

Diagnosis of equine asthma

A
  • History
  • Physical exam
  • Auscultation - use a rebreathing bag
  • Endoscopy
29
Q

How can a rebreathing bag be used to help diagnose equine asthma?

A
  • Place bag around the horse’s muzzle. This will increase CO2, and thereby increase depth ad effort of respiration
  • This makes it easier to hear respiratory sounds on auscultation
  • Check for tolerance, cough, recovery
  • This is especially important for horses with mEA -> they will not tolerate the bag for very long
  • May hear wheezes, crackles, tracheal rattles

⚠️Do not use a rebreathing bag if the horse is in respiratory distress⚠️

30
Q

How can endoscopy be helpful in investigation of equine asthma?

A
  • Rule out upper airway disease
  • Can see tracheal mucus
  • Perform 1hr post exercise
  • Make sure to visualise the carina
31
Q

Who has equine asthma?

A

Horse 1

32
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1

A
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Q

2

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Q

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Q

4

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36
Q

SPAOPA

A

Summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease

37
Q

What broad classes of drugs can be used to treat horses with asthma?

A

Horses with mEA only may benefit from:
* Immune modulation (interferon-alpha)
* Omega-3 supplementation

Horses with mEA and sEA may benefit from:
* Glucocorticoids
* Bronchodilators

38
Q

Why are glucocorticoids used to treat equine asthma?

A
  • High efficacy and extensive use
  • Impact on lung function, airway inflammation, bronchial remodelling
  • Side effects include: adrenal suppression, adrenal gland atrophy, immune suppression, laminitis
  • Inhaled therapy may be preferable to systemic for long-term treatment
39
Q

How could you use glucocorticoids to treat the horse with acute sEA?

A
  • IV dexamethasone (0.04-0.1mg/kg SID)
  • Followed by PO dexamethasone 0.05 mg/kg OR prednisolone 1mg/kg SID - give until respiratory effort and nasal discharge resolve
  • Then follow with inhaled glucocorticoids: ideally fluticasone 2000µg BID, otherwise Beclomethasone diproprionate 3750µg BID
40
Q

Characteristics of ciclesonide for treatment of sEA

A

Ciclesonide
* Glucocorticoid
* Pro-drug
* Does not affect cortisol
* Dose: 8 activations BID for 5 days, then 12 activations SID

41
Q

Glucocorticoid treatment protocol for mEA

A
  • Start PO dexamethasone 0.05mg/kg OR prednisolone 1mg/kg SID - for 4 weeks
  • Follow this with inhaled glucocorticoids:
  • Initially fluticasone 2000µg BID, tapered over 4 weeks to 1000µg every 48hrs
  • Can then use Beclomethasone diproprionate 500-1500µg BID
42
Q

What bronchodilators are available for treatment of equine asthma and how should you use them?

A

Use bronchodilators alongside glucocorticoids
* There are beta-adrenergic and parasympatholytic options

Beta-adrenergic
* e.g. Clenbuterol, albuterol, salbutamol
* Give inhaled for mEA, systemic for sEA
* Systemic: Clenbuterol PO starting at 0.8µg/kg BID then increasing to 3.2µg/kg BID; clenbuterol IV not recommended due to side effects
* Inhaled: salmeterol (0.5-1µg/kg q6hrs) or albuterol (0.8-2µg/kg q1-6hrs)

Parasympatholytic
* = ipratropium bromide (0.4-0.8µg/kg q4hrs)

43
Q

How could you use interferon-alpha in the treatment of equine asthma?

A
  • 50-150 U / horse/ day
  • May see positive response to treatment and decreased relapse rate
  • However practical experience is mixed
44
Q

How could cromoglicate be used in treatment of equine asthma?

A
  • Used in mast-cell mediated mEA
45
Q

How could omega-3 fatty acids be used in treatment of equine asthma?

A
  • 1.5-3g DHA for both mEA and sEA
46
Q

Side effects of glucocorticoids

A
  • Adrenal suppression
  • Adrenal gland atrophy
  • Immune suppression
  • Laminitis
47
Q

Systemic beta-adrenergic bronchodilators

A
  • Cardiovascular remodelling
  • Tachyphylaxis
48
Q

What must you take into account and warn the owner about if their horse is on long term treatment for equine asthma? Where is a good place to look for the required information?

A
  • Each drug and delivery method has a detection time
  • The treatment should be discontinued before that time
  • Times may vary according to pathology and other factors
  • These times change so should be rechecked regularly (see BHA website or individual competition information)