Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in horses with exercise intolerance.
Abstract: Significant differences were detected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) between horses racing successfully and those showing exercise intolerance. Neutrophil percentage, haemosiderophage percentage and total bacterial numbers were significantly elevated in horses with exercise intolerance. BAL provided a more accurate indication of the incidence and extent of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) than visual inspection.
Publication Date: 1991-11-01 PubMed ID: 1778160DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03756.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article investigates the differences in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) outcomes between horses that race successfully and those that experience exercise intolerance, effectively using BAL as an accurate diagnostic tool for identifying exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) in horses.
Overview of the Research
- The study focuses on using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)—a diagnostic method involving the inspection of fluid from the lungs—to differentiate between horses that are able to race successfully and those that show signs of exercise intolerance.
- In essence, the research intent is to assess whether BAL can function as an effective diagnostic tool in identifying exercise intolerance in horses.
Findings of the Study
- The main findings revealed significant variations in the BAL results between successful racing horses, and the ones demonstrating exercise intolerance.
- Three key parameters were found to be significantly elevated in horses showing exercise intolerance: the percentage of neutrophils—which are white blood cells that help the body fight infection; the percentage of haemosiderophages—cells that consume and breakdown old red blood cells; and the overall count of bacteria.
Implications of the Research
- The results indicate that BAL is a potentially useful tool for the detection and understanding of exercise intolerance in horses.
- Beyond illuminating possible trends between parameters like neutrophil percentage, haemosiderophage percentage and total bacterial counts, BAL was also found to more accurately indicate the incidence and extent of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)—a common condition in racehorses—in comparison to standard visual inspections.
- This study therefore supports the use of BAL in diagnosing and managing EIPH and exercise intolerance in horses, which could have practical applications in equine healthcare and racehorse training.
Cite This Article
APA
Fogarty U, Buckley T.
(1991).
Bronchoalveolar lavage findings in horses with exercise intolerance.
Equine Vet J, 23(6), 434-437.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1991.tb03756.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co. Kildare.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
- Cell Count / veterinary
- Colony Count, Microbial
- Fatigue / pathology
- Fatigue / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lymphocytes
- Macrophages
- Neutrophils
- Physical Exertion
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / pathology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Bartenschlager F, Kuropka B, Schmitz P, Dumke F, Landmann K, Gruber AD, Weise C, Schnabel CL, Gehlen H, Mundhenk L. Proteomic profiling of equine airway mucus reveals compositional changes in asthmatic phenotypes. Sci Rep 2026 Feb 10;16(1):5880.
- Rasmussen N, Karlsen P, Otten ND, Fjeldborg J, Hansen S. Bilateral bronchoalveolar lavage cytology profiles in a warmblood horse population during a 1-year period. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2391-2398.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Evaluation of fitness parameters in relation to racing results in 245 Standardbred trotter horses submitted for poor performance examination: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2023;18(10):e0293202.
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Conturba B, Bozzola C, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Medical Disorders and Racing Outcomes in Poorly Performing Standardbred Trotter Racehorses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Morini M, Gobbo F, Rinnovati R, Romagnoli N, Peli A, Massarenti C, Spadari A, Pietra M. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology in Severe Equine Asthma: Cytocentrifugated versus Sediment Smear Preparations. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 16;10(8).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Medical causes of poor performance and their associations with fitness in Standardbred racehorses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1514-1527.
- Cullinane A, Garvey M, Walsh C, Gibbons J, Creighton A. A Scoping Review of Non-Structural Airway Disease as a Cause of Poor Performance in Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 27;13(3).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Ferrucci F. Impact of Lower Airway Inflammation on Fitness Parameters in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 21;12(22).
- Morini M, Peli A, Rinnovati R, Magazzù G, Romagnoli N, Spadari A, Pietra M. Immunohistochemical Expression of Neurokinin-A and Interleukin-8 in the Bronchial Epithelium of Horses with Severe Equine Asthma Syndrome during Asymptomatic, Exacerbation, and Remission Phase. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 12;11(5).
- Stucchi L, Alberti E, Stancari G, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. The Relationship between Lung Inflammation and Aerobic Threshold in Standardbred Racehorses with Mild-Moderate Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jul 27;10(8).
- Lopez Sanchez CM, Kogan C, Gold JR, Sellon DC, Bayly WM. Relationship between tracheobronchoscopic score and bronchoalveolar lavage red blood cell numbers in the diagnosis of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jan;34(1):322-329.
- Ivester KM, Couëtil LL, Moore GE. An observational study of environmental exposures, airway cytology, and performance in racing thoroughbreds. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1754-1762.
- Poole DC, Erickson HH. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: where are we now?. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:133-148.
- Barton AK, Gehlen H. Pulmonary Remodeling in Equine Asthma: What Do We Know about Mediators of Inflammation in the Horse?. Mediators Inflamm 2016;2016:5693205.
- Couëtil LL, Cardwell JM, Gerber V, Lavoie JP, Léguillette R, Richard EA. Inflammatory Airway Disease of Horses--Revised Consensus Statement. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Mar-Apr;30(2):503-15.
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