Risk factors for duration of equine rhinitis A virus respiratory disease.

Authors: Rossi T M, Moore A, O'Sullivan T L, Greer A L

Journal: Equine veterinary journal

DOI: 10.1111/evj.13204 PubMed: 31710114Log in to save

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Risk Factors for Duration of Equine Rhinitis A Virus Respiratory Disease Equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) causes substantial morbidity in young horses, yet individual animals display marked variation in recovery timelines despite comparable clinical presentation and absence of secondary bacterial infection. Rossi and colleagues analysed data from naturally infected horses to identify factors predicting prolonged respiratory disease duration, employing multivariate analysis to distinguish independent predictors from confounding variables. The research identified specific host and management factors that significantly extended convalescence, providing clinicians with evidence-based prognostic indicators and informing biosecurity decisions during outbreak management. These findings enable more accurate case prognosis and may support targeted interventions to shorten disease course in susceptible populations. For practitioners managing respiratory outbreaks in yards or training facilities, understanding which horses face extended illness could optimise isolation protocols, return-to-work timelines, and monitoring intensity.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Practical Takeaways

•Understanding factors that influence how long respiratory disease lasts in young horses can help vets predict recovery timelines and advise owners on return-to-work expectations
•Identifying disease duration risk factors enables development of targeted biosecurity protocols to reduce spread and severity of respiratory infections in stables
•Clinical decision-making regarding treatment duration and management strategies can be informed by knowledge of which horses are at risk for prolonged disease

Key Findings

•Significant variation in clinical disease duration was observed in equine rhinitis A virus infection independent of secondary complications
•Study aimed to identify risk factors associated with disease chronicity in young horses with respiratory infections

Conditions Studied

equine rhinitis a virus respiratory diseaseinfectious respiratory disease in young horses

Related References

Equine Rhinitis A Virus Infection at a Standardbred Training Facility: Incidence, Clinical Signs, and Risk Factors for Clinical Disease.

Rossi Tanya M, Moore Alison, O'Sullivan Terri L, Greer Amy L(2019)Frontiers in veterinary science

Prolonged suppression of the innate immune system in the horse following an 80 km endurance race.

Robson P J, Alston T D, Myburgh K H(2003)Equine veterinary journal

Respiratory diseases and their effects on respiratory function and exercise capacity.

Van Erck-Westergren E, Franklin S H, Bayly W M(2013)Equine veterinary journal

Inflammatory airway disease, nasal discharge and respiratory infections in young British racehorses.

Wood J L N, Newton J R, Chanter N, Mumford J A(2005)Equine veterinary journal

Lower respiratory tract disease in Thoroughbred racehorses: analysis of endoscopic data from a UK training yard.

Ramzan P H L, Parkin T D H, Shepherd M C(2008)Equine veterinary journal