Investigation of the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccination on Thoroughbred racing performance |
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| Authors: | K Schemann EJ Annand PA Reid MF Lenz PC Thomson NK Dhand |
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| Institution: | 1. Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia;2. Marie Bashir Institute for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;3. Equine veterinary surgeon, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;4. Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;5. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Objective To evaluate the effect of Equivac® HeV Hendra virus vaccine on Thoroughbred racing performance. Design Retrospective pre‐post intervention study. Methods Thoroughbreds with at least one start at one of six major south‐eastern Queensland race tracks between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2016 and with starts in the 3‐month periods before and after Hendra virus vaccinations were identified. Piecewise linear mixed models compared the trends in ‘Timeform rating’ and ‘margin to winner’ before and after initial Hendra virus vaccination. Generalised linear mixed models similarly compared the odds of ‘winning’, ‘placing’ (1st–3rd) and ‘winning any prize money’. Timeform rating trends were also compared before and after the second and subsequent vaccinations. Results Analysis of data from 4208 race starts by 755 horses revealed no significant difference in performance in the 3 months before versus 3 months after initial Hendra vaccination for Timeform rating (P = 0.32), ‘Margin to winner’ (P = 0.45), prize money won (P = 0.25), wins (P = 0.64) or placings (P = 0.77). Further analysis for Timeform rating for 7844 race starts by 928 horses failed to identify any significant change in Timeform rating trends before versus after the second and subsequent vaccinations (P = 0.16) or any evidence of a cumulative effect for the number of vaccines received (P = 0.22). Conclusion No evidence of an effect of Hendra virus vaccination on racing performance was found. The findings allow owners, trainers, industry regulators and animal health authorities to make informed decisions about vaccination. |
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| Keywords: | Hendra virus racing performance Thoroughbreds Timeform rating vaccination |
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