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Results from an Australian research project suggest exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) may have a genetic component. Scientists from the University of Sydney looked at the pedigrees and incidences of EIPH in 117,088 racing starts by Thoroughbred racehorses over a period of more than ten years. Bleeding from the nostrils (epistaxis), a manifestation of severe EIPH, was seen in 2,474 horses. Information was collected on a number of factors that might be related to epistaxis.

After analyzing data on the age, sex, and birth year for the horses, the researchers found that these factors were significantly related to epistaxis, though no significant correlation was found for track condition, track surface, length of race, trainer, jockey, number of horses in a race, or time of year.

There was strong evidence of a genetic influence in horses with epistaxis. When pedigrees for these horses were compared, several sire lines figured prominently among horses that bled. The researchers said this information could be helpful in managing horses with a tendency to have severe EIPH.

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