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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warm...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2024; doi: 10.1111/jvim.17118

Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1-year period.

Abstract: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology results from 1 lung might not be representative of both lungs. Objective: To determine whether the lung site sampled would influence the horse's BAL cytology profile, and if a pooled BAL sample would be superior with regard to BAL cytology diagnosis in a cohort of healthy and subclinical asthmatic warmblood horses. Methods: Fifty-nine horses in 2021 and 70 horses in 2022, the follow-up included 53 of the same in each year. Methods: A cross-sectional study with follow-up included BAL cytology samples from individual lungs and from pooled BAL samples. The BAL samples were enumerated and differential cell count were applied to categorize the horses as control or with airway inflammation (AI). Results: Bronchoalveolar lavage mast cell count was higher in left lung compared to right lung (2021; median 1.6 [range, 0.6-3.3] vs 1.2 [0.7-1.5] P = .009, 2022; median 3.1 [2.1-4.2] vs 2.4 [1.7-3.4], P < .001) and compared to pooled samples (2022; median 2.6 [1.7-3.7], P < .001). Between year 2021 and 2022, 17 of the horses had changes in BAL cytology from control to AI or vice versa. Conclusions: Pooled BAL sample was the least reliable for detecting AI, and was not representative of the overall lung condition.
© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-23 PubMed ID: 38780440DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17118Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research examines the reliability of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology profiles from warmblood horses, focusing on the differences between sampling one lung versus both lungs, and pooled versus individual samples taken over a one-year period. It concluded that pooled sample was least reliable for detecting airway inflammation and did not representative overall lung condition.

Methods:

Given in the study were:

  • Cross-sectional BAL cytology data from 59 horses in 2021 and 70 horses in 2022, including 53 that were part of both groups.
  • Each horse provided BAL samples from individual lungs as well as a pooled sample combining data from both lungs.
  • Using differential cell count, researchers then categorized each horse as a control or exhibiting airway inflammation (AI).

Results:

The study’s findings included the following:

  • The BAL mast cell count was typically higher in the left lung compared to the right lung and the pooled samples. The difference between left and right lung was statistically significant in both 2021 and 2022.
  • From 2021 to 2022, 17 of the horses had changes in their BAL cytology, transitioning from the control category to AI, or vice versa.

Conclusion:

From their findings, the researchers concluded:

  • Sampling a pooled BAL was not reliable in detecting airway inflammation and did not accurately represent the horse’s overall lung condition. Instead, it appeared that analyzing individual samples from each lung provided more accurate and reliable information.
  • The inconsistent BAL cytology across time – with some horses transitioning between control and AI statuses from 2021 to 2022 – further underscored the need for careful and regular monitoring of these animals’ lung health.

Cite This Article

APA
Rasmussen N, Karlsen P, Otten ND, Fjeldborg J, Hansen S. (2024). Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1-year period. J Vet Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17118

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Rasmussen, Nanna
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Karlsen, Pernille
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Otten, Nina D
  • Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Fjeldborg, Julie
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
Hansen, Sanni
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Grant Funding

  • Horse Levy Foundation

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