Environmental factors of equine osteochondrosis and fetlock osteochondral fragments: A scoping review – Part 1

Various environmental and genetic risk factors are linked to the pathogenesis of equine osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joint. Therefore, a scoping review was conducted to describe current evidence linking genetic factors and environmental factors of these osteochondral disorders. This article constitutes the first part of this scoping review and focuses on environmental factors, with the second part addressing genetic factors. To identify potentially relevant papers online bibliographical databases PubMed and Web of Science were utilised, supplemented with articles listed on the OMIA website (OMIA:000750–9796). After entry collection, removing duplicates, screening titles, abstracts, and full-text documents for eligibility, and manually searching reference lists of the remaining articles, a total of 212 studies was identified for this scoping review. First, an overview of the current understanding of the etiopathogenesis of equine osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joint is given. Subsequently, the article delves into the environmental factors associated with the prevalence of these disorders, which are categorized into foetal programming, biomechanical trauma and exercise, growth, anatomic conformation, nutrition, weaning, hormonal factors, bacterial infection, sex, date of birth, and other environmental factors. In conclusion, future research should adopt a multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing longitudinal studies and precise phenotype definitions. This strategy will help elucidate the complex relationships between environmental factors and OC, DOF, and POF, considering the dynamic nature, varying phenotypes, and scarcity of research in some domains of these osteochondral disorders. This approach will be crucial in developing effective management strategies aimed at improving equine orthopaedic health.