Prevalence of upper respiratory diseases and associated factors in Colombian Creole horses

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of diseases of the upper respiratory tract and associated factors in the Colombian Creole Horse Valley Aburrá in 2015, a random sampling of 15 farms in southern Aburrá Valley under different management conditions was performed. A total of 105 CCC underwent general clinical examination, respiratory endoscopic evaluation and a detailed inspection of housing conditions and management. A low prevalence of upper respiratory tract diseases was observed, including Pharyngeal Lymphoid Hyperplasia 38.1%, Recurrent Laryngeal Neurophaty 12.38%, Dorsal Displacement of the Soft Palate 7.62%, and presence of tracheal secretions not associated with a specific pathology. A bivariate analysis showed association between tracheal secretions and frequency of training per week (OR = 9.86), duration of the training sessions (OR = 5.55) and inadequate ventilation of the stable (OR = 10.52). Association between HLR and inadequately ventilated barns was also observed (OR = 14.9). Logistic regression showed association between tracheal secretions and inadequate ventilation (OR = 7.18). We conclude that inadequate ventilation was the most important factor for the incidence of upper respiratory tract diseases in horses at the southern area of the Aburrá Valley.