Transport-associated Respiratory Disease in Horses

Pleuropneumonia is a common disease of equids, especially young racehorses. Although several risk factors for the development of pleuropneumonia have described, including strenuous exercise, upper respiratory viral disease, general anesthesia and esophageal obstruction, long-distance transport is probably the most common inciting cause. During the First World War, horse deaths from pneumonia exceeded mortality from other causes by a factor of three until provisions to improve the conditions of long-distance shipping were improved.