Equine Pasture Asthma in Brazil

Background: Summer Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (SPAOPD), or Equine Pasture Asthma (EPA),has been described as an environmentally-induced respiratory disease that occurs during the warmer and more humidmonths, leading to reversible airway obstruction, persistent and non-specific airway hyper-responsiveness, and chronicneutrophilic airway inflammation. Exacerbation of clinical signs vary according to warm seasons and range from mildto severe episodes of wheezing, coughing, and laboured breathing, being highly debilitating to the equine. This reportdescribed two cases of Equine Pasture Asthma that showed clinical and environmental similarities with Summer PastureAssociated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Cases: The patients were crossbreed geldings that have never been stabled and were used for cattle management in a farmin southeastern Brazil. They presented poor performance and a persistent cough for over 3 years. Initially, the respiratorysigns were only observed after exercise but, over the years, it gradually progressed to being observed when the horses wereat rest. Both animals had a history of regular deworming and were previously treated by other veterinarians with antibiotics,clenbuterol, and mucokinetics. Little improvement was noticed by the owner and the signs returned over time as treatmentwas often discontinued. Clinical findings were compatible with the grade 3 mucus classification as well as with score 2for Severe Asthma. BALF cytology was done according to routine procedure. Animal 1 presented slides with free yeast,macrophages, and mucus with Curschmann’s spiral and counting of 29.7% of neutrophils (NE), 43.7% of lymphocytes(LP), 25.3% of macrophages (MC) and 1.3% of eosinophils (EO). Animal 2 presented slides with phagocytized yeast,mucus and counting of 27% of NE, 38.5% of LP, 33% of MC and 1.5% of EO...

Equine Pasture Asthma in Brazil

Background: Summer Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (SPAOPD), or Equine Pasture Asthma (EPA),has been described as an environmentally-induced respiratory disease that occurs during the warmer and more humidmonths, leading to reversible airway obstruction, persistent and non-specific airway hyper-responsiveness, and chronicneutrophilic airway inflammation. Exacerbation of clinical signs vary according to warm seasons and range from mildto severe episodes of wheezing, coughing, and laboured breathing, being highly debilitating to the equine. This reportdescribed two cases of Equine Pasture Asthma that showed clinical and environmental similarities with Summer PastureAssociated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.Cases: The patients were crossbreed geldings that have never been stabled and were used for cattle management in a farmin southeastern Brazil. They presented poor performance and a persistent cough for over 3 years. Initially, the respiratorysigns were only observed after exercise but, over the years, it gradually progressed to being observed when the horses wereat rest. Both animals had a history of regular deworming and were previously treated by other veterinarians with antibiotics,clenbuterol, and mucokinetics. Little improvement was noticed by the owner and the signs returned over time as treatmentwas often discontinued. Clinical findings were compatible with the grade 3 mucus classification as well as with score 2for Severe Asthma. BALF cytology was done according to routine procedure. Animal 1 presented slides with free yeast,macrophages, and mucus with Curschmanns spiral and counting of 29.7% of neutrophils (NE), 43.7% of lymphocytes(LP), 25.3% of macrophages (MC) and 1.3% of eosinophils (EO). Animal 2 presented slides with phagocytized yeast,mucus and counting of 27% of NE, 38.5% of LP, 33% of MC and 1.5% of EO...(AU)

Non-surgical treatment of guttural pouch empyema with presence of chondroids in a filly

Background: Guttural pouch empyema in horses is a disease described by the accumulation of purulent/mucopurulent exudate, which with chronification of the disease can become chondroids, affecting horses of any age and not presenting breed predisposition. The main cause of empyema is upper respiratory infection, associated or not with failure in the defense mechanisms, as well as drainage to the guttural pouch of retropharyngeal lymph node abscesses; the main pathogen related to this condition is Streptococcus equi. This paper aims to describes a case of a filly that presented a mucopurulent nasal discharge, five months of evolution, and irresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Case: A 2.5-year-old quarter filly was referred to the veterinary hospital presenting a 5 months evolution mucopurulent nasal discharge, irresponsive to gentamicin and ceftiofur, and later doxycycline, acetylcysteine and clenbuterol that were instituted on the farm. Throw the endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract, was observed the presence of mucopurulent content and chondroids inside the right guttural pouch. This material was collected and sent for culture and antibiogram tests. Streptococcus equi was isolated, and was only sensitive to ceftiofur. The treatment included the guttural pouches flushes with warm saline solution (0.9%) associated with Lauryl Dietylene Glycol Ether Sulfate Sodium (28%) and acetylcysteine (10%). In addition to topical treatment, 5 mg/kg of ceftiofur was administered intramuscularly daily for 7 days. After 10 flushes of the guttural pouch, was observed a total absence of chondroid and mucopurulent contents. Discussion: The treatment of the guttural pouch empyema can be performed either by conservative methods or by the surgical drainage. Among the benefits of the conservative treatment are the absence of the risks...

Non-surgical treatment of guttural pouch empyema with presence of chondroids in a filly

Background: Guttural pouch empyema in horses is a disease described by the accumulation of purulent/mucopurulent exudate, which with chronification of the disease can become chondroids, affecting horses of any age and not presenting breed predisposition. The main cause of empyema is upper respiratory infection, associated or not with failure in the defense mechanisms, as well as drainage to the guttural pouch of retropharyngeal lymph node abscesses; the main pathogen related to this condition is Streptococcus equi. This paper aims to describes a case of a filly that presented a mucopurulent nasal discharge, five months of evolution, and irresponsive to antibiotic therapy. Case: A 2.5-year-old quarter filly was referred to the veterinary hospital presenting a 5 months evolution mucopurulent nasal discharge, irresponsive to gentamicin and ceftiofur, and later doxycycline, acetylcysteine and clenbuterol that were instituted on the farm. Throw the endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract, was observed the presence of mucopurulent content and chondroids inside the right guttural pouch. This material was collected and sent for culture and antibiogram tests. Streptococcus equi was isolated, and was only sensitive to ceftiofur. The treatment included the guttural pouches flushes with warm saline solution (0.9%) associated with Lauryl Dietylene Glycol Ether Sulfate Sodium (28%) and acetylcysteine (10%). In addition to topical treatment, 5 mg/kg of ceftiofur was administered intramuscularly daily for 7 days. After 10 flushes of the guttural pouch, was observed a total absence of chondroid and mucopurulent contents. Discussion: The treatment of the guttural pouch empyema can be performed either by conservative methods or by the surgical drainage. Among the benefits of the conservative treatment are the absence of the risks...(AU)

Obstrução recorrente das vias aéreas em muares: relato de três casos / Airway recurrent obstruction in mules: report of three cases

Relatam-se três casos de obstrução recorrente das vias aéreas em muares com idade média de 10 anos. Os animais eram utilizados para concurso de marcha e criados em campo. Após serem mantidos em cocheiras com cama de serragem e alimentados com feno (tifton e alfafa) e ração comercial, começaram a manifestar intolerância ao exercício e episódios de tosse durante o exercício. Após exames clínico e laboratorial, instituiu-se terapia à base de clenbuterol, dexametazona e bromexina, além de controle ambiental. Após 21 dias de tratamento, ocorreu remissão dos sintomas clínicos. Para comprovação diagnóstica, os animais foram submetidos ao desafio ambiental, por um período de dois dias. Após o tratamento, os três animais voltaram a desempenhar suas atividades atléticas de modo satisfatório.(AU)

Three cases of airway recurrent obstruction in approximately 10-year-old mules are reported. The animals were raised free and used for marching competitions. After being stabled in boxes under a wood scrape bed and fed on tifton and alfalfa hay plus a commercial ration, they started to show intolerance to exercise and episodes of coughing during it. After clinical and laboratorial examinations, clenbuterol, dexametazone and bromexine were administrated, besides controlling the environment. After 21 days of treatment, the clinical symptoms ceased. In order to certify that diagnosis, the animals were submitted to an environmental challenge for two days. Then, the animals were back to their normal athletic activities in a satisfactory manner.(AU)

Effect of clenbuterol on growth performance in broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of clenbuterol (CB), a beta2-adrenergic agonist, as a growth and weight gain promoter in broilers. Effects of CB were assessed, mixing it in feed at 0.0, 0.21, 0.42 and 0.84ppm, and feeding during four weeks to four groups (n=75) of 28 day-old Arbor Acres chickens. The body weight (BW) and food intake at 0, 12, 20 and 28 days of the study were recorded. Also abdominal fat (AF) and total muscle proteins were measured. Results indicate that from day 20 until the last of the experimental period (56-day-old), efficacy of CB was evident to increase growth and decrease AF deposition rates (P 0.01), in a dose-response pattern, suggesting that CB has a profitable growth promoting effect in broiler chickens.

Avaliou-se o efeito da administração de clenbuterol (CB) como promotor de ganho de peso em frangos, dos 28 (início do experimento) aos 56 dias de idade (final do experimento). CB foi adicionado às dietas nas dosagens de 0 (controle), 0,21, 0,42 e 0,84ppm. Utilizaram-se 75 frangos em cada tratamento, registrando-se o peso corporal, o consumo de alimento, a gordura abdominal e a proteína muscular. A partir do 20º dia do experimento (48 dias de idade) até o seu final o efeito da administração de CB foi significativo. Frangos que receberam dosagens mais elevadas de CB estavam mais pesados. Observou-se também diminuição na deposição de gordura no abdômen com o aumento das dosagens de CB na dieta.

Effect of clenbuterol on growth performance in broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of clenbuterol (CB), a beta2-adrenergic agonist, as a growth and weight gain promoter in broilers. Effects of CB were assessed, mixing it in feed at 0.0, 0.21, 0.42 and 0.84ppm, and feeding during four weeks to four groups (n=75) of 28 day-old Arbor Acres chickens. The body weight (BW) and food intake at 0, 12, 20 and 28 days of the study were recorded. Also abdominal fat (AF) and total muscle proteins were measured. Results indicate that from day 20 until the last of the experimental period (56-day-old), efficacy of CB was evident to increase growth and decrease AF deposition rates (P 0.01), in a dose-response pattern, suggesting that CB has a profitable growth promoting effect in broiler chickens.

Avaliou-se o efeito da administração de clenbuterol (CB) como promotor de ganho de peso em frangos, dos 28 (início do experimento) aos 56 dias de idade (final do experimento). CB foi adicionado às dietas nas dosagens de 0 (controle), 0,21, 0,42 e 0,84ppm. Utilizaram-se 75 frangos em cada tratamento, registrando-se o peso corporal, o consumo de alimento, a gordura abdominal e a proteína muscular. A partir do 20º dia do experimento (48 dias de idade) até o seu final o efeito da administração de CB foi significativo. Frangos que receberam dosagens mais elevadas de CB estavam mais pesados. Observou-se também diminuição na deposição de gordura no abdômen com o aumento das dosagens de CB na dieta.

Respostas endócrinas, metabólicas, cardíacas e hematológicas de eqüinos submetidos ao exercício intenso e à administração de cafeína, aminofilina e clembuterol

Metodos costumeiramente empregados no estudo da fisiologia do exercicio podem ser utilizados para avaliar os efeitos de substancias licitas (ergogenicos) ou ilicitas (doping) sobre a capacidade atletica. Estudaram-se algumas respostas endocrinas, metabolicas, cardiacas e hematologicas de equinos, treinados, da raca Puro Sangue Arabe (PSA) submetidos ao exercicio intenso e a administracao isolada de cafeina (CAF), aminofilina (AM) ou clembuterol (CL), 30 minutos antes do esforco fisico, nas doses de 5 mg.kg-1, 10 mg.kg-1 e 0,8 Êg.kg-1 de peso corporeo, respectivamente. Para avaliacao dos efeitos do exercicio e farmacos empregou-se exercicios testes em esteira rolante, utilizando-se inclinacao de 10% com incrementos de velocidade, sendo realizadas colheitas de sangue 15 segundos antes do termino de cada etapa. Nas amostras de sangue foram quantificados hematocrito, contagem de hemacias, hemoglobina e leucocitos totais, alem da glicemia, lactacidemia, insulinemia, cortisolemia. Tambem avaliou-se a frequencia cardiaca. Para todas analises estatisticas realizadas, estabeleceu-se como nivel de significancia p.0,05. Os resultados mostram que a CAF elevou significativamente a lactacidemia, glicemia e o hematocrito, mas reduziu a insulinemia e a cortisolemia. Para AM houve elevacao significativa da glicemia no inicio do exercicio e reducao nas etapas de exercicio maximo, sendo tambem observado aumento da lactacidemia. O CL provocou elevacao significativa da frequencia cardiaca e insulinemia. A cafeina prejudicou a capacidade aerobica, mas aumentou metabolismo anaerobico. Ja a aminofilina parece interferir na homeostase da glicemia durante o exercicio intenso, mas melhorou a via glicolitica anaerobica. Finalmente, o clembuterol nao melhorou a capacidade aerobica e, marcadamente, prejudicou a resposta cardiaca, bem como aumentou a insulinemia

Currently, equine exercise physiology is in a considerable development in Brazil. The use of scientific methods for the evaluation of the exercise and training protocols is fundamental for the maximization of equine performance. It also can be applied to evaluate the effects of legal (ergogenics) and/or illegal substances during competitions on athletic horses. Some metabolic, endocrine, cardiac and hematologic responses of trained Arab horses submitted to intense exercise and to the administration of caffeine, aminophylline and clenbuterol, a single dose given at 30 minutes before the effort. Doses were, respectively, 5 mg.kg-1, 10 mg.kg-1 and 0,8 Êg.kg-1. A treadmill was employed for the evaluation of exercise and drug effects, with 10% slope and speed increments. Blood samples were withdrawn 15 seconds before the end of each exercise bout. Hematocrit, erythrocytes and leucocytes count, hemoglobin, glucose, lactate, insulin and cortisol concentration, were determined. Heart rate was also monitored at the same time points. A minimum criterion of P.0,05 was adopted for statistical significance. Our results revealed significant variations in all physiologic parameters studied. Caffeine impaired the aerobic capacity but improved the aerobic potency. Aminophylline interfered in glycemic curve during intense exercise, but improved anaerobic performance. Finally, clenbuterol did not improve the parameters association with aerobic metabolism, but, markedly, impaired cardiac response, and increased insulin concentration compromising glycemic control during intense exercise