Descriptive Study of Medication Usage and Occurrence of Disease and Injury During Gestation in Thoroughbred Broodmares

Antimicrobial resistance of endometrial bacterial isolates collected from UK Thoroughbred mares between 2014 and 2020

“…Confirming previous findings from the literature, BHS and E. coli were the two most prevalent bacteria isolated in the equine endometrium in this study. There have been contrasting data affirming which isolate dominates, while some reports have found BHS to be more prevalent as in our study, 13 there are many other reports that have found E. coli to dominate 10, 15, 18, 24 . The referenced studies suggested that higher levels of E. coli isolates may be due to contamination, thereby causing their prevalence to be overestimated.…”

“…Similarly, a 2022 study reported that 50% of mares from farms in the UK (n = 6) and Ireland (n = 1) received intrauterine antimicrobials over the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons. 15 These figures vary from those obtained in older studies in the same geographical area, with a similar population of mares, that reported 'uterine treatment' in 25% of oestrus cycles in the 2002 season 16 and in 12.24% in 1998. 17 This apparent increase in antimicrobial usage over time may reflect differing management practices, differing preferences of the veterinary surgeon involved and potentially increased pressures on the breeding industry ; however, such an increase is noteworthy.…”

“…There have been contrasting data affirming which isolate dominates, while some reports have found BHS to be more prevalent as in our study, 13 there are many other reports that have found E. coli to dominate. 10,15,18,24 The referenced studies suggested that higher levels of E. coli isolates may be due to contamination, thereby causing their prevalence to be overestimated. In practice, cytology results help to differentiate between genuine endometritis and contamination.…”

“…A report into the therapeutic practices used in the management of 1754 breeding mares in the UK found that, between the 2013 and 2014 breeding seasons, intrauterine antimicrobials were administered in 46.9% of all pregnancies, 14 primarily post‐mating. Similarly, a 2022 study reported that 50% of mares from farms in the UK ( n = 6) and Ireland ( n = 1) received intrauterine antimicrobials over the 2018 and 2019 breeding seasons 15 . These figures vary from those obtained in older studies in the same geographical area, with a similar population of mares, that reported ‘uterine treatment’ in 25% of oestrus cycles in the 2002 season 16 and in 12.24% in 1998 17 .…”

Incidence of disease, injury and death in Thoroughbred foals and yearlings on stud farms in the UK and Ireland

“…These findings mirror patterns previously described in non‐UK studies where disease incidence risk was highest in the neonatal period and then declined with age 4,5,7 . Similarly, in keeping with findings from other Thoroughbred populations, 19–21 musculoskeletal disease and injury were by far the most common reasons for individuals requiring non‐routine veterinary intervention, affecting half of the cohort and around six cases/month/100 foals. High rates of musculoskeletal disease and injury are of particular concern in young Thoroughbreds due to early‐life exposures not only having the ability to affect developmental processes but also to alter susceptibility to injury and disease in later life 2 .…”