Registration open for Feb. 13 Westwood Lecture on equine respiratory health

Laurent Couëtil Download image

Laurent Couëtil, professor of large animal internal medicine and director of the Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center and equine research programs, College of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Galloping Towards Respiratory Health: Research in Equine Asthma and Performance” from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Westwood, the Purdue president’s residence.

The Westwood Lecture Series is an opportunity for Purdue faculty and those staff members engaged in the research topic to interact with colleagues on scholarly work. The program is aimed at enhancing the intellectual vibrancy of the Purdue West Lafayette campus.

Information about Couëtil’s presentation is below. Space is limited to the first 50 faculty who register online. 

“Galloping Towards Respiratory Health: Research in Equine Asthma and Performance”

Laurent Couëtil

Professor of large animal internal medicine

Director, Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center and equine research programs

College of Veterinary Medicine

Abstract. Asthma is a very common disease in horses, as it is in humans. It is estimated that up to 14% of adult horses globally suffer from a severe form of the disease, characterized by coughing, wheezing and increased breathing effort at rest. Research performed in Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Donald J. McCrosky Sports Medicine Center laboratories reveals that about 80% of Thoroughbred racehorses in the U.S. suffer from a milder, underdiagnosed form of the disease, primarily characterized by decreased performance. This talk will focus on characterizing the causes and effects of mild asthma in equine athletes and innovative approaches to field and laboratory research. It will also discuss mitigation strategies that work in real-world conditions and positively impact equine health.

Bio. Laurent Couëtil is a professor of large animal internal medicine and the director of both the equine research programs and Donald J. McCrosky Equine Sports Medicine Center in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Couëtil obtained his veterinary degree from the National Veterinary School of Alfort, France, and worked in private practice for top horse owners and trainers in Chantilly, France. He completed a large animal medicine residency at Tufts University and a PhD in respiratory physiology at the University of Liege, Belgium. He is past president of the large animal internal medicine specialty of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Upcoming Spring 2024 Westwood Lecture Series events

March 27: Fenggang Yang — Professor of sociology and director, Center on Religion and the Global East, College of Liberal Arts. “The Social Significance of Religion: From China to the Global East.”

April 17: Kristen Yeon-Ji Yun — Clinical associate professor of music, College of Liberal Arts. “Embracing AI Technology in Music Performance.”