Radiographic study of bone spavin in Lusitano Horses
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2017-09-27
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A Osteoartrite (OA) das articulações distais do tarso (também conhecido como
esparavão ósseo) é uma doença esquelética comum de cavalos de desporto, em particular
cavalos de dressage, obstáculos e corrida. As articulações mais comumente afetadas são as
articulações intertársica distal e tarsometatársica. Em muitos casos, o processo inflamatório é
doloroso, o que resulta numa claudicação que é progressivamente mais evidente. Mais tarde
ou mais cedo, esta osteoartrite acaba por afetar a performance e longevidade desportiva do
cavalo.
O cavalo Lusitano é um dos cavalos mais versáteis do mundo. A sua popularidade
crescente, em particular como cavalo de dressage tem contribuído para o crescimento da sua
população a nível mundial.
O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo da osteoartrite das articulações
distais do tarso no cavalo de raça Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL). O uso desta raça em
modalidades equestres que exigem grande capacidade de concentração, como a dressage,
equitação de trabalho e toureio, e a conformação tarsal com ângulos pequenos, típica nesta
raça são factores que podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de esparavão ósseo nestes
cavalos. Além disto, apesar de ser frequentemente diagnosticado pelos veterinários como
uma causa comum de claudicação de membros posteriores nestes cavalos, o esparavão
ósseo não está estudado nesta raça.
Foram incluídos neste estudo todos os cavalos PSL que foram examinados em regime
de clínica ambulatória e foram submetidos a exame radiográfico dos curvilhões entre Janeiro
de 2010 e Agosto de 2016. A maioria dos cavalos eram provenientes das regiões do Alentejo
e Ribatejo (Portugal). A amostra final incluída neste estudo era composta por um total de 104
cavalos, 76 machos e 28 fêmeas, com idades compreendidas entre 1 e 19 anos de idade.
Destes animais, 41% foram radiografados em contexto de exame de claudicação e 37% foram
examinados como parte dos controlos já implementados em várias coudelarias para exame
dos animais aí criados. Os restantes (22%) foram radiografados em contexto de exame em
ato de compra.
Dos 104 animais estudados, 53 apresentavam sinais radiográficos compatíveis com
OA das articulações distais do tarso. No grupo de cavalos submetidos a exame em ato de
compra, apenas 6 dos 25 animais tinham sinais radiográficos de OA e nenhum apresentava
claudicação dos membros posteriores.
Embora sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas, foram identificados com maior
frequência sinais radiográficos de OA no curvilhão esquerdo e a doença apresentou maior
prevalência no grupo de fêmeas. A grande maioria das osteoartrites diagnosticadas foram
classificadas como ligeiras. Como já era previsto, as articulações mais frequentemente
afetadas foram a intertársica distal e tarsometatársica. Por fim, dos cinco sinais radiográficos
avaliados, a “Diminuição do espaço articular” e a “Osteofitose/neoformações ósseas” foram
os mais frequentes.
Este estudo revela a importância do esparavão óssea na raça PSL. A sua alta
prevalência na amostra estudada e a possibilidade de existir predisposição genética para a
doença na raça demonstram que é necessário implementar um programa de controlo efetivo
da doença em garanhões e éguas reprodutores da raça.
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the distal tarsal joints (commonly known as bone spavin) is a common skeleton disease of equine athletes, particularly dressage, jumping and racing horses. The most commonly affected joints are the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. In many cases, the inflammatory process is painful resulting in a lameness that is progressively more evident. Sooner or later, this osteoarthritis affects the horses’ performance and sporting longevity. The Lusitano horse in one of the most versatile breeds of the world. Its growing popularity, particularly as a classical dressage horse has contributed for the growing numbers of its population worldwide. The present work aimed the study of osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints on the Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL) breed. Its use in horse riding modalities that require a great capacity of collection such as dressage, working equitation and bullfighting, and the typical tarsal conformation with small angles in this breed are possible contributing factors for the development of bone spavin in these horses. And despite veterinarians may diagnose it as a common cause of hindlimb lameness in these horses, bone spavin hasn’t been properly studied in the breed. Were included in the study all PSL horses that were examined in ambulatory clinical practice and underwent radiographic exam of the hock region between January 2010 and August 2016. The majority of the horses were from the geographic regions of Alentejo and Ribatejo (Portugal). For each animal, at least two radiographic views of each tarsus were obtained. The final sample included in the present study comprised a total of 104 horses, being 76 males and 28 females, aged between 1 and 19 years old. Of these, 41% were radiographed in context of lameness exam and 37% were radiographed as part of check-up exams (a component of the normal stud control already implemented in several stud farms). The remaining animals (22%) were radiographed during pre-purchase exams. Of the 104 animals studied, 53 presented radiographic signs compatible with OA of the distal tarsal joints. In the group of horses submitted to pre-purchase exam, only 6 of the 25 animals presented radiographic signs of OA and none of the animals presented hindlimb lameness. Although without significant statistical differences, were identified radiographic signs of OA more frequently in the left hock, and the disease had a higher prevalence in the female group. The great majority of the diagnosed OA were classified as mild. As expected, the most commonly affect joints were the distal intertarsal and the tarsometatarsal joints. Finally, of the five radiographic signs evaluated, the most commonly found in this study were “Joint space narrowing” and “Osteophyte/new bone formation”. This study shows the importance of bone spavin in the PSL breed. Its high prevalence in the studied sample, and the possibility of existence of genetic predisposition for the disease in the breed display that it is necessary the implementation of an effective control program of the disease in breeding sires and dams.
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the distal tarsal joints (commonly known as bone spavin) is a common skeleton disease of equine athletes, particularly dressage, jumping and racing horses. The most commonly affected joints are the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints. In many cases, the inflammatory process is painful resulting in a lameness that is progressively more evident. Sooner or later, this osteoarthritis affects the horses’ performance and sporting longevity. The Lusitano horse in one of the most versatile breeds of the world. Its growing popularity, particularly as a classical dressage horse has contributed for the growing numbers of its population worldwide. The present work aimed the study of osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints on the Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL) breed. Its use in horse riding modalities that require a great capacity of collection such as dressage, working equitation and bullfighting, and the typical tarsal conformation with small angles in this breed are possible contributing factors for the development of bone spavin in these horses. And despite veterinarians may diagnose it as a common cause of hindlimb lameness in these horses, bone spavin hasn’t been properly studied in the breed. Were included in the study all PSL horses that were examined in ambulatory clinical practice and underwent radiographic exam of the hock region between January 2010 and August 2016. The majority of the horses were from the geographic regions of Alentejo and Ribatejo (Portugal). For each animal, at least two radiographic views of each tarsus were obtained. The final sample included in the present study comprised a total of 104 horses, being 76 males and 28 females, aged between 1 and 19 years old. Of these, 41% were radiographed in context of lameness exam and 37% were radiographed as part of check-up exams (a component of the normal stud control already implemented in several stud farms). The remaining animals (22%) were radiographed during pre-purchase exams. Of the 104 animals studied, 53 presented radiographic signs compatible with OA of the distal tarsal joints. In the group of horses submitted to pre-purchase exam, only 6 of the 25 animals presented radiographic signs of OA and none of the animals presented hindlimb lameness. Although without significant statistical differences, were identified radiographic signs of OA more frequently in the left hock, and the disease had a higher prevalence in the female group. The great majority of the diagnosed OA were classified as mild. As expected, the most commonly affect joints were the distal intertarsal and the tarsometatarsal joints. Finally, of the five radiographic signs evaluated, the most commonly found in this study were “Joint space narrowing” and “Osteophyte/new bone formation”. This study shows the importance of bone spavin in the PSL breed. Its high prevalence in the studied sample, and the possibility of existence of genetic predisposition for the disease in the breed display that it is necessary the implementation of an effective control program of the disease in breeding sires and dams.
Descrição
Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária
Palavras-chave
Cavalo , Raça Puro Sangue Lusitano , Osteoartrite , Articulações tarsianas , Estudo radiográfico , Esparavão ósseo , Doença articular degenerativa