Anatomopathological and toxicological study of 23 cases of sudden post-exercise death associated with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in thoroughbred racehorses

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perform pathological and toxicological study of 23 cases of sudden death associated with pulmonary hemorrhage induced by exercise. We studied 23 cases of sudden death post-race, at the Race track «La Rinconada», Caracas, Venezuela. At necropsy, organ samples were taken for histopathological study. Sample of blood and urine for toxicological studies using competitive ELISA. The necropsy findings were: massive hemothorax severe congestion and rupture marked bronchial and mediastinal arteries. Subserosal petechial hemorrhage to caudo-dorsal lung lobes. Severe edema in trachea, bronchus and lung parenchyma. Severe bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage in lung parenchyma. Histopathological lesions showed severe congestion, marked edema, acute pulmonary hemorrhage due to rupture of focal bronchial arterioles, replete with red blood effusion. The Prussian blue special stain was positive for hemosiderophages observation in all cases studied. Toxicological studies allowed the detection of furosemide, pentoxifylline and clenbuterol. In conclusion it was made a pathological and toxicological study in 23 cases of sudden death associated  with pulmonary hemorrhage induced by exercise at the Race Track «La Rinconada, Caracas, Venezuela.