Immunological response to long‐term transport stress in mature horses and effects of adaptogenic dietary supplementation as an immunomodulator

Stull, Carolyn; Spier, Sharon J.; Aldridge, Brian; Blanchard, M; Stott, Jeffrey L

doi:10.2746/0425164044864589

Cited by 36 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…It is well known that transportation can cause both tachycardia and hormonal disruption in horses (Baucus et al, 1990;Clark et al, 1993;Warren and Cuddeford, 1995;Rodiek, 2000, 2002;Stull et al, 2004). Previous studies have confirmed cardiac frequency monitoring as a valuable measure of the immunological condition (Harlow et al,1987), energy expenditure (Giovagnoli et al, 2002), and welfare for short term stressors such as those encountered during loading and transport (Minero et al, 2001;Broom et al, 2002;Honkavaara et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of a mirror reduces isolation stress in horses being transported by trailer

Kay

Hall

2009

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Horse trailers are a common form of transportation for horses and ponies and often require the animal to travel alone or with a single companion. The current study investigated the effect of transporting horses alone, in company or with an acrylic safety mirror (measuring 81 x 61.5 cm) that provided surrogate companionship. The behavioural and physiological responses of twelve mature horses during a 30-minute journey by trailer under the three treatments were compared.Behaviour (vocalisation, eating, head-tossing, pawing, and head turning) was recorded. In order to assess circulatory changes that occur as part of the response to transport, heart rate (HR), rectal (T r ) and ear-pinna (T p ) temperatures were recorded. When travelling with a live companion significantly less time was spent vocalising (p<0.001), head turning (p<0.001), head-tossing (p<0.01) and pawing (p<0.01); eating behaviour increased (p<0.05). Physiological responses (increases in HR and T r and decreases in T p ) were also significantly reduced when travelling with a live companion (p<0.01). Travelling with the mirror did not significantly affect physiological responses compared with travelling alone, but the rise in T r and fall in T p was reduced (p=0.052 and p=0.051 respectively) and can be considered a trend. When travelling with a mirror significantly less time was spent turning the head (p<0.01), vocalising (p<0.05) and head tossing (p<0.05); eating behaviour increased (p<0.05). The only significant difference between travelling with a live 1 companion and a mirror was that the time spent turning the head round was less with a live companion (p<0.05). The provision of surrogate companionship in the form of a mirror was found to be preferable to travelling alone, but where possible a live companion is recommended. Isolation during transportation was found to suppress feeding behaviour. Although peripheral blood flow (T p ) has been used to assess transport stress in other species it has not previously been used in the horse. Further evaluation of this non-invasive measure is now required.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of a mirror reduces isolation stress in horses being transported by trailer

Kay

Hall

2009

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…Long distance horse transportation can result in substantial stress and alteration in immune function, including an acute phase response that results in impaired cell‐mediated immunity . Imported horses also have increased exposure risk to infectious respiratory pathogens, because of comingling at sales/shipping barns, quarantine facilities, and during transports.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in horses recently imported to the United States

Smith

Watson

Spier

et al. 2018

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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BackgroundImported horses that have undergone recent long distance transport might represent a serious risk for spreading infectious respiratory pathogens into populations of horses.ObjectiveTo investigate the frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in recently imported horses.AnimalsAll imported horses with signed owner consent (n = 167) entering a USDA quarantine for contagious equine metritis from October 2014 to June 2016 were enrolled in the study.MethodsProspective observational study. Enrolled horses had a physical examination performed and nasal secretions collected at the time of entry and subsequently if any horse developed signs of respiratory disease during quarantine. Samples were assayed for equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus type‐1, −2, −4, and −5 (EHV‐1, −2, −4, −5), equine rhinitis virus A (ERAV), and B (ERBV) and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) using quantitative PCR (qPCR).ResultsEquine herpesviruses were detected by qPCR in 52% of the study horses including EHV‐2 (28.7%), EHV‐5 (40.7%), EHV‐1 (1.2%), and EHV‐4 (3.0%). Clinical signs were not correlated with being qPCR‐positive for EHV‐4, EHV‐2, or EHV‐5. None of the samples were qPCR‐positive for EIV, ERAV, ERBV, and S. equi. The qPCR assay failed quality control for RNA viruses in 25% (46/167) of samples.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceClinical signs of respiratory disease were poorly correlated with qPCR positive status for EHV‐2, −4, and −5. The importance of γ‐herpesviruses (EHV‐2 and 5) in respiratory disease is poorly understood. Equine herpesvirus type‐1 or 4 (EHV‐1 or EHV‐4) were detected in 4.2% of horses, which could have serious consequences if shedding animals entered a population of susceptible horses. Biosecurity measures are important when introducing recently imported horses into resident US populations of horses.

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“…Numerous studies to determine the amount of transport stress in horses have been carried out (Leadon, 1994;Fazio and Ferlazzo, 2003;Stull et al, 2004) and thus it is well known that long-term stress (24 to 48 h) can influence a number of systems in the horse, including the immune, digestive and reproductive systems (Baucus et al, 1990a and1990b). The extent to which short transport stress influences the horse's thyroid function has not been sufficiently studied and only limited scientific data are available that demonstrate its effect on body weight (BW), rectal temperature and heart rate (HR) changes (Stull, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological variables of horses after road transport

Fazio

Medica

Cravana

et al. 2009

Animal

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In order to investigate the effects of short road transport stress on total and free iodothyronines, body weight (BW), rectal temperature and heart rate (HR) changes, 126 healthy stallions were studied in basal conditions, before and after transport. A total of 60 Thoroughbred and 66 crossbred stallions aged 4 to 15 years with previous travelling experience were transported by road in a commercial trailer for a period of about 3 to 4 h (distance under 300 km). Blood samples and functional variables were collected in each horse box, one week before loading and transport in basal conditions (control samples), one week later immediately before loading (pre-samples) and again after transport and unloading (about 3 to 4 h) in each new horse box, within 30 min of their arrival at the breeding stations (post-samples). Compared to the before-transport values, increases in circulating T 3 , T 4 and fT 4 levels ( P , 0.01) were observed after transport, irrespective of breed, but not for fT 3 levels. Lower T 4 and fT 4 levels were observed in basal II (at 1100 h) ( P , 0.01) than in basal I (at 0800 h) conditions and before transport. Thoroughbreds showed higher fT 3 ( P , 0.05) and fT 4 ( P , 0.01) levels after transport than crossbred stallions. No significant differences were observed for T 3 and T 4 . Compared to the before-transport values, significant increases in rectal temperature ( P , 0.01) and HR ( P , 0.05) were observed after transport. No differences were observed between basal I, II and before values for functional variables. Significant correlations between T 3 and rectal temperature, BW and HR were found. The results indicate that short road transport induces a preferential release of T 3 , T 4 and fT 4 hormones from the thyroid gland in relation to different breed, and an increase in rectal temperature and HR. No significant changes in BW were observed. No differences were observed in relation to different ages. The data obtained suggest that the stallion's thyroid hormones and functional variables may play an important role in assessing the effects of transport stress and a horse's coping strategy.Keywords: horse, iodothyronines, rectal temperature, heart rate, transport ImplicationsThe results of the current study suggest that the stallion's thyroid hormones and functional responses may play an important role in providing complementary information for the assessment of transport stress and animal coping strategies. In addition, the existence of a significant correlation between T 3 and rectal temperature, body weight and heart rate confirms that T 3 is the most metabolically active iodothyronine. Moreover, the importance of the thyroid hormone, namely triiodothyronine (T 3 ) generated locally by 5 0 -monodeiodinase (5 0 -MD) in the muscle tissue for metabolic needs during transport is still under investigation. In addition, when using circulating iodothyronine changes for the evaluation of transport stress the presence of peripheral 5 0 -MD should be further investigated. This may indicate that T 3 gen...

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Immunological response to long‐term transport stress in mature horses and effects of adaptogenic dietary supplementation as an immunomodulator

Cited by 36 publications

References 32 publications

The use of a mirror reduces isolation stress in horses being transported by trailer

The use of a mirror reduces isolation stress in horses being transported by trailer

Frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in horses recently imported to the United States

Physiological variables of horses after road transport

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