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  Discussion on Research Study: UR Lesions and Racing Performance
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DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009 - 7:26 am:

This was a bit odd. The presence of grade four left pharyngeal hemiplegia was not found to effect race horse performance? Hmmmmm I would like to see the grading, or perhaps once again we see the problems with assessment of upper respiratory system function in the standing horse...

That pharyngeal inflammation was associated with poorer performance is not surprising as these animals may be recovering influenza cases. Now for the really interesting finding: tracheal cartilaginous nodules (TCNs) were associated with enhanced performance. Could it be the hardest working had a bit more air flow over the trachea causing the nodules to form?
DrO

Vet Rec. 2009 Oct 10;165(15):431-435.
Prevalence of pharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal disorders in thoroughbred racehorses, and effect on performance.

Saulez MN, Gummow B.

Section of Equine Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies,, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.

Endoscopic examinations were performed on 1005 thoroughbred racehorses in South Africa a mean (sd) 24 (12.3) minutes after racing, to determine the prevalence of pharyngeal, laryngeal and tracheal disorders, and to determine the relationship of these disorders with performance (number of wins and placed finishes). Overall, there was a low prevalence of grade 2 and 3 laryngeal function (LF) (2.2 per cent), grade 4 LF (0.6 per cent), epiglottic entrapment (1.3 per cent), subepiglottic cyst (0.2 per cent) and epiglottic deformity (0.6 per cent), while a higher prevalence of grade 2 to 4 pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (PLH) (63 per cent), laryngeal debris (43.5 per cent), tracheal debris (21.9 per cent), tracheal mucus (99.5 per cent) and tracheal cartilaginous nodules (TCNs) (6.8 per cent) was observed. Performance was not affected by the presence of epiglottic deformity, grade 2 and 3 LF, grade 4 LF, debris within the trachea or larynx, or epiglottic entrapment. Grade 3 PLH occurred in younger racehorses; performance was impaired in horses with grade 2 and 3 PLH. Furthermore, TCNs were more prevalent in male racehorses and were associated with better performance.
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