Investigating a New Treatment Strategy for Equine Asthma

Equine asthma (also previously known as heaves, recurrent airway obstruction and COPD) is a significant problem with limited treatment options. This chronic allergic respiratory condition is diagnosed in all breeds and reportedly affects between 10 and 20 percent of adult horses. Common symptoms include recurrent cough, labored breathing and exercise intolerance. Researchers noted increased levels of a specific protein in airway samples of horses with asthma when compared to healthy horses. In this study, the team will investigate if targeting this novel protein is a viable new therapeutic strategy to treat equine asthma.