Environmental surveillance and adverse neonatal health outcomes in foals born near unconventional natural gas development activity

Mullen, Kathleen R.; Rivera, Brianna N.; Tidwell, Lane G.; Ivanek, Renata; Anderson, Kim A.; Ainsworth, Dorothy M.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138497

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 79 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Briefly, foals with primary dysphagia in this study were afebrile, full term and had been born uneventfully from healthy mares. Gross and histopathological examinations of the placenta were within normal limits 7 . At birth, foals were quiet, alert and immediately exhibited a strong suckle reflex but aspirated milk with their first nursing effort.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…All foals born between 2012 and 2017 on the two farms were eligible for inclusion in the study. As previously described, 7 all foalings were attended by trained farm managers who recorded the foal’s time and date of birth, a modified Apgar Score, time‐to‐nurse, birth weight, rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, placental weights and presence of dysphagia. Detailed physical examinations of the 12‐ to 24‐hour‐old foals and dams were performed by the farm veterinarian.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jugular venous blood samples from each mare and foal were collected for laboratory analysis (haemogram, chemistry panel, serum selenium, thyroid hormones and lead) at the time of foaling and thereafter every 6 weeks. Health status of the foals was assessed daily by farm managers and every 6 weeks by 2 of the study investigators 7 . Foals requiring medical attention were evaluated at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA) in Ithaca, NY, or at a local veterinary clinic with specialists, Rhinebeck Equine Hospital, Rhinebeck, NY.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Veterinarians at the two facilities shared medical records and information on the health status of the foals in the study (see Ref. 7 for complete details of the investigation including the results of equine tissue and environmental sampling).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We recently reported on a clustering of foal dysphagia cases occurring over a 6‐year period on a Standardbred broodmare facility located amidst unconventional natural gas development (UNGD, fracking) wells 6,7 . Dysphagia was associated with exposure of late‐pregnant mares to high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the farm well water 7 . Dysphagia was eliminated following installation of a water treatment/filtration system and a reduced mare exposure to environmental PAHs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

The effect of neonatal dysphagia on subsequent racing performance in Standardbred horses

Delvescovo

Mullen

Eicker³

et al. 2020

Equine Veterinary Journal

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Previously we described a clustering of dysphagic foal cases on a Pennsylvania (PA) Standardbred farm which was associated with exposure of pregnant mares to high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the well water. The effect of dysphagia on future athleticism was uncertain. Objectives To determine if, as adults, dysphagic foals were less likely to race and if athleticism (age of first race, Speed Index and Earnings Per Start Index) differed from that of healthy foals that raced as adults. Study design Prospective cohort study. Methods All foals born during the study period (2014‐2017) on the affected PA or an unaffected New York (NY) farm with the same proprietor were eligible for inclusion in the study. Foals with dysphagia attributed to causes other than PAH environmental exposure were excluded. The proportion of foals from both farms that raced, their age of first race, Earnings Per Start Index and Speed Index were compared between the dysphagic and normal foals using Chi‐Square and Wilcoxon Rank Sum Tests. Significance level was P < .05. Results A total of 116 foals met the inclusion criteria. No significant difference was found in the percentages of foals that raced from each farm: On the PA farm, 54% of healthy and 72% of dysphagic foals raced; 70% of healthy NY farm foals raced. Median (interquartile range) age of first race, Earnings Per Start Index or Speed Index for dysphagic foals (2 years (2, 2); 57 (49, 60); 60 (45, 66) was not different from those of healthy foals from both farms (2 years (2, 3); 55 (39, 78)) or the PA farm (2 years (2, 2); 61(24, 73); 68 (57, 85)). All P > .05. Main limitations Small sample size and unique type of dysphagia. Conclusions The athleticism of formerly dysphagic foals does not appear to be negatively impacted compared with normal foals as measured by age of first race, Earnings Per Start Index and Speed Index.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations