Mild to moderate equine asthma — an overview

Mild to moderate equine asthma (EA) is the newly adopted term which defines the syndrome previously known as Inflammatory Airway Disease (IAD). The adoption of this new nomenclature recognises the clinical phenotypic overlap amongst various non-infectious diseases of the equine lower airways; most notably between mild to moderate EA and severe EA (previously termed Recurrent Airway Obstruction [RAO]). Despite the high prevalence of mild to moderate EA, particularly within certain horse populations, there remain significant gaps in knowledge, especially with respect to aetiological triggers and pathogenesis, both significant determinants of appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic approaches.