Some Epidemiological Aspects of Equine Respiratory Disease Associated with Transport

Abstract

In order to obtain the epidemiologic churacteristics of equine respiratory disease associated with transport, a total of 29 Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred horses were transported by truck for 1, 708 km. The horses were examined to determine whether a clinical relationship existed between respiratory disease, and the following intrinsic and extrinsic factors; breed, sex, position in vehicle, travelling time, weight loss during transit, food and water intake throughout the transport, nervous excitability and anaerobic efficiency. As travelling time increased, the number of horses which developed respiratory disease increased. However, no significant relationship existed when other factors were compared to the onset of equine respiratory disease.