Difference between revisions of "Summer Pasture-Associated Recurrent Airway Obstruction"

Revision as of 18:05, 25 August 2010

(SPA-RAO)

Also known as: Summer Pasture-Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Summer Pasture-Associated Heaves

Description

Summer Pasture-Associated Recurrent Airway Obstruction(SPA-RAO) is a disease affecting horses kept at pasture (in contrast to Recurrent Airway Obstruction that affects horses that are stabled and fed hay). The disease is characterised by airway inflammation, increased airway mucus production and bronchoconstriction.

Signalment

The average age of onset of SPA-RAO is 9 years of age. There is no sex or breed disposition reported.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of the disease is largely unknown but it suggested hypotheses include inhaled pollens or outdoor moulds and ingestion of a pasture-derived pneumotoxin.

Clinical signs

Clinical signs are similar to those associated with RAO but occur in horses kept out at pasture during the summer months. Signs may include exercise intolerance, cough (often productive), dyspnoea, increased expiratory effort and flared nostrils. Pyrexia is not usually a feature of SPA-RAO. An abdominal 'heave' line may be visible due to hypertrophy of the external abdominal oblique muscles. Lung field auscultation reveals fine crackles and wheezes or significantly reduced lung sounds in severe cases of SPA-RAO.

References

McGorum, B. C., Edward Robinson, N., Dixon, P. M., Schumacher, J. (2007) Equine respiratory medicine and surgery Elsevier Health Sciences

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 ==Description==
-Summer Pasture-Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (SPA-RAO) is a disease affecting horses kept at pasture (in contrast to Recurrent Airway Obstruction that affects horses that are stabled and fed hay). The disease is characterised by airway inflammation, increased airway mucus production and bronchoconstriction.
+Summer Pasture-Associated Recurrent Airway Obstruction(SPA-RAO) is a disease affecting horses kept at pasture (in contrast to Recurrent Airway Obstruction that affects horses that are stabled and fed hay). The disease is characterised by airway inflammation, increased airway mucus production and bronchoconstriction.
+==Signalment==
+The average age of onset of SPA-RAO is 9 years of age. There is no sex or breed disposition reported.
 ==Pathogenesis==
 The pathogenesis of the disease is largely unknown but it suggested hypotheses include inhaled pollens or outdoor moulds and ingestion of a pasture-derived pneumotoxin.
-*Airway inflammation and clinical signs similar to stabling-associated COPD/RAO, but occurs in horses kept out at pasture during the summer months.
+==Clinical signs==
-*Presumed to be similar pathogenesis to stabling-associated COPD/RAO
+Clinical signs are similar to those associated with RAO but occur in horses kept out at pasture during the summer months. Signs may include exercise intolerance, cough (often productive), dyspnoea, increased expiratory effort and flared nostrils. Pyrexia is not usually a feature of SPA-RAO.
-*Allergens likely to be plant pollens and plant-associated fungal spores
+An abdominal 'heave' line may be visible due to hypertrophy of the external abdominal oblique muscles. Lung field auscultation reveals fine crackles and wheezes or significantly reduced lung sounds in severe cases of SPA-RAO.
-*Horses often have concurrent stabling-associated COPD so management can be very difficult!
 ==References==