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Veterinary sciences2023; 10(8); 527; doi: 10.3390/vetsci10080527

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology in Severe Equine Asthma: Cytocentrifugated versus Sediment Smear Preparations.

Abstract: Equine asthma is a common respiratory disease that may affect horses of any age. The diagnosis of severe equine asthma (SEA) (historically referred as recurrent airway obstruction or RAO) is based mainly on the history of the animal and clinical signs, which are further supported by the cytological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). This can also be helpful in monitoring the inflammation of the lower airways in response to environmental management and medication. The cytocentrifugated preparation is usually considered the method of choice for BAL cytological interpretation. The aim of this study was to compare the results in terms of differential cell counts (DCC) in BAL cytology performed on sedimented smears and cytocentrifugated preparations. To carry this out, 48 BAL samples were collected from six horses with SEA that were subjected to a process of exacerbation of the disease by environmental stimuli, which was later followed by the appropriate treatment. Each collected BAL fluid was equally divided into duplicate portions: one processed by cytocentrifugation and one by sediment smear from simple centrifugation. Cytologic examination of all BAL by both methods showed poor concordance in DCC, although it was still able to allow diagnostic recognition of severe lung neutrophilic disorders. These results suggest that sediment smear preparation, although remaining a useful method in general equine practice associated with clinical assessments in the diagnosis of SEA under conditions where there is no possibility of using a cytocentrifuge, cannot be considered a comparable alternative.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-16 PubMed ID: 37624314PubMed Central: PMC10459724DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080527Google 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.

This research focuses on comparing two methods of preparing bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples in diagnosing severe equine asthma (SEA): cytocentrifugation and simple centrifugation with a sediment smear. The article presents a finding that sediment smear preparation while useful in general practice, cannot serve as a comparable alternative to cytocentrifugation in situations where a cytocentrifuge is not available.

Understanding the Research Context

  • The study seeks to provide insights into the diagnosis of severe equine asthma (SEA), a common disease among horses.
  • SEA diagnosis primarily relies upon the history of the animal, clinical signs and the cytological examination of bronchoaliveolar lavage (BAL).
  • BAL cytology also helps in monitoring the inflammation of the horse’s lower airways, informing environmental management and medication decisions.

The Research Methodology

  • The research involved an examination of 48 BAL samples collected from six horses diagnosed with SEA.
  • Each BAL sample was then split into two for processing: one through cytocentrifugation and the other through simple centrifugation, with a sediment smear.
  • The study’s aim centered around comparing the differential cell counts (DCC) results from cytology performed on both preparations.

Results and Inferences

  • Findings showed poor concordance between the two methodologies in relation to DCC, suggesting that the two methods might not be directly interchangeable.
  • The study’s results further indicated that diagnostic recognition of severe lung neutrophilic disorders was still possible through cytologic examination irrespective of the preparatory method used.
  • However, the paper concludes that sediment smear preparations cannot be considered an equivalent alternative in situatins where cytocentrifuge isn’t available. The sediment smear preparation was seen as only a useful method often used in general equine practice in conjunction with clinical assessments for diagnosing SEA.

Cite This Article

APA
Morini M, Gobbo F, Rinnovati R, Romagnoli N, Peli A, Massarenti C, Spadari A, Pietra M. (2023). Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology in Severe Equine Asthma: Cytocentrifugated versus Sediment Smear Preparations. Vet Sci, 10(8), 527. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10080527

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 8
PII: 527

Researcher Affiliations

Morini, Maria
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Gobbo, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Rinnovati, Riccardo
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Romagnoli, Noemi
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Peli, Angelo
  • Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Rimini Campus, 47921 Rimini, Italy.
Massarenti, Chiara
  • Anicura Veterinary Institute of Novara, Granozzo con Monticello, 20060 Novara, Italy.
Spadari, Alessandro
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Pietra, Marco
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Pınar O, Çelik Doğan C, Aktaran Bala D, Kumaş C, Mete A. Analysis of the presence of Beta-hemolytic streptococci and cytological profiles in horse tracheal lavage samples with diverse clinical respiratory symptoms. BMC Vet Res 2025 Oct 2;21(1):558.
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  2. Volpe E, Ciulli S, Morini M, Gentile L, Casalini A, Gentilezza C, Mandrioli L. Preliminary Study of the Antimicrobial Capacity of the Cutaneous Mucus and Smear Cytology of the Epidermis in a Population of European eels (Anguilla anguilla, Linnaeus 1758). Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 19;15(12).
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  3. Mańkowska A, Witkowska D. The Most Common Environmental Risk Factors for Equine Asthma-A Narrative Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 14;14(14).
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