FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(22); 3243; doi: 10.3390/ani14223243

Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Racehorses.

Abstract: Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) is a common pulmonary disease among racehorses, diagnosed by the detection of blood in the trachea after strenuous exercise or the presence of hemosiderophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Although the latter is considered the most sensitive method to diagnose EIPH, it is perceived as a less practical and more invasive procedure compared to tracheal wash (TW) collection among racehorse trainers. The present retrospective study aimed to verify the agreement between Tracheal wash and BALF cytology in assessing EIPH in racehorses. For this purpose, cytological data from 172 patients regarding hemosiderophage percentage, hemosiderin score, and percentage of recent, intermediate, and old EIPH were reviewed, and the simplified Total Hemosiderin Score (sTHS) was calculated. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to assess the difference and the correlation between TW and BALF. The two cytological methods strongly agreed in evaluating EIPH in racehorses for hemosiderophage percentage (ρ = 0.89, < 0.001), hemosiderin score (k = 0.63, < 0.001), sTHS (ρ = 0.87, < 0.001), percentage of recent EIPH (ρ = 0.95, < 0.001), intermediate EIPH (ρ = 0.92, < 0.001), and old EIPH (ρ = 0.85, < 0.001). In conclusion, TW showed to be a reliable method, which might substitute BALF in assessing EIPH in racehorses.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-11-12 PubMed ID: 39595296PubMed Central: PMC11591033DOI: 10.3390/ani14223243Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 article centers on Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in racehorses, comparing the effectiveness of two diagnostic methods – Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology. The study finds that both methods accurately evaluate the disease, suggesting that Tracheal Wash could be a reliable replacement for the more invasive Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology.

Objective of the Research

The study aimed to compare the agreement between the Tracheal Wash (TW) and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) cytology methods in diagnosing Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in racehorses. BALF is known as the most accurate, but less practical and more invasive method to diagnose EIPH, compared to Tracheal Wash.

  • The researchers performed a retrospective study on cytological data of 172 patients, analysing various components such as the percentage of hemosiderophages, hemosiderin score, and the percentage of recent, intermediate, and old EIPH.
  • The simplified Total Hemosiderin Score (sTHS) was also calculated. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to assess the difference and correlation between TW and BALF.

Results of the Research

The study found strong agreement between the Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid cytology methods in assessing EIPH in racehorses.

  • There was high agreement in evaluating the hemosiderophage percentage (ρ = 0.89, < 0.001), hemosiderin score (k = 0.63, < 0.001), and sTHS (ρ = 0.87, < 0.001).
  • Similarly, agreement was high when assessing the percentage of recent EIPH (ρ = 0.95, < 0.001), intermediate EIPH (ρ = 0.92, < 0.001), and old EIPH (ρ = 0.85, < 0.001).

Conclusion of the Research

The study concluded that Tracheal Wash is a reliable method for assessing Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in racehorses. This suggests that it might substitute for Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology, which is often seen as less practical and more invasive. The findings could potentially impact the methods used to diagnose EIPH in the equine industry, promoting a more efficient and less intrusive approach.

Cite This Article

APA
Bozzola C, Sala G, Schinardi L, Stancari G, Stucchi L, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. (2024). Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) in Racehorses. Animals (Basel), 14(22), 3243. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223243

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 22
PII: 3243

Researcher Affiliations

Bozzola, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Sala, Giulia
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, Università di Pisa, San Piero a Grado, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
Schinardi, Lorenzo
  • Veterinary Practitioner, 26121 Piacenza, Italy.
Stancari, Giovanni
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Stucchi, Luca
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Ferrucci, Francesco
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Zucca, Enrica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Consensus Statement.. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2015;29:743–758.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.12593pmc: PMC4895427pubmed: 25996660google scholar: lookup
  2. Crispe EJ, Lester GD. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2019;35:339–350.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.007pubmed: 31084976google scholar: lookup
  3. Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Stancari G, Alberti E, Conturba B, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Associations between Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH) and Fitness Parameters Measured by Incremental Treadmill Test in Standardbred Racehorses.. Animals 2022;12:449.
    doi: 10.3390/ani12040449pmc: PMC8868235pubmed: 35203157google scholar: lookup
  4. Hinchcliff KW, Jackson MA, Brown JA, Dredge AF, O’Callaghan PA, McCaffrey JP, Morley PS, Slocombe RF, Clarke AF. Tracheobronchoscopic Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Horses.. Am. J. Vet. Res. 2005;66:596–598.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.596pubmed: 15900938google scholar: lookup
  5. Kinnison T, Cardwell JM. Conflict Between Direct Experience and Research-Based Evidence Is a Key Challenge to Evidence-Based Respiratory Medicine on British Racing Yards.. Front. Vet. Sci. 2020;7:266.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00266pmc: PMC7267464pubmed: 32537459google scholar: lookup
  6. Cascardo B, Bernardes C, de Souza GN, Silva KM, Pires NR, de Alencar NX, Lessa DAB. Diagnostic Value of Tracheal Wash Cytology for Monitoring Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2022;118:104128.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104128pubmed: 36222272google scholar: lookup
  7. Rossi H, Virtala A-M, Raekallio M, Rahkonen E, Rajamäki MM, Mykkänen A. Comparison of Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology in 154 Horses with and Without Respiratory Signs in a Referral Hospital over 2009−2015.. Front. Vet. Sci. 2018;5:61.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00061pmc: PMC5879091pubmed: 29632867google scholar: lookup
  8. Malikides N, Hughes K, Hodgson D, Hodgson J. Comparison of Tracheal Aspirates and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Racehorses 2. Evaluation of the Diagnostic Significance of Neutrophil Percentage.. Aust. Vet. J. 2003;81:685–687.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12540.xpubmed: 15086110google scholar: lookup
  9. Hughes KJ, Malikides N, Hodgson DR, Hodgson JL. Comparison of Tracheal Aspirates and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Racehorses 1. Evaluation of Cytological Stains and the Percentage of Mast Cells and Eosinophils.. Aust. Vet. J. 2003;81:681–684.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12538.xpubmed: 15086109google scholar: lookup
  10. Barbazanges P, Richard EA, Lemonnier LC, Wouters CP, Toquet M, Couroucé A. Cytological Diagnosis of Exercise-induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage: Comparison of Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Standardbred Racehorses.. Vet. Rec. 2024;194:e3826.
    doi: 10.1002/vetr.3826pubmed: 38291664google scholar: lookup
  11. Doucet MY, Viel L. Alveolar Macrophage Graded Hemosiderin Score from Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Horses with Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage and Controls.. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2002;16:281–286.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2002.tb02370.xpubmed: 12041658google scholar: lookup
  12. McKane SA, Slocombe RF. Sequential Changes in Bronchoalveolar Cytology after Autologous Blood Inoculation.. Equine Vet. J. 1999;31:126–130.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05202.xpubmed: 10659236google scholar: lookup
  13. Di Fabio V, Ferrucci F, Zucca E, Croci C. Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH): Diagnosis and Evaluation of Hemosiderophages in Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) in 77 Standardbred Racing Horses. Proceedings of the Società Italiana delle Scienze Veterinarie (SISVET) Ischia, Italy. 25–27 September 2003; pp. 259–260.
  14. Alberti E, Stucchi L, Lo Feudo CM, Stancari G, Conturba B, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. Evaluation of Cardiac Arrhythmias before, during, and after Treadmill Exercise Testing in Poorly Performing Standardbred Racehorses.. Animals 2021;11:2413.
    doi: 10.3390/ani11082413pmc: PMC8388799pubmed: 34438870google scholar: lookup
  15. 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 2023;13:2569.
    doi: 10.3390/ani13162569pmc: PMC10451774pubmed: 37627359google scholar: lookup
  16. 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:e0293202.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293202pmc: PMC10586626pubmed: 37856522google scholar: lookup
  17. 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 2020;10:1278.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10081278pmc: PMC7459439pubmed: 32727062google scholar: lookup
  18. Golde DW, Drew WL, Klein HZ, Finley TN, Cline MJ. Occult Pulmonary Haemorrhage in Leukaemia.. BMJ 1975;2:166–168.
    doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5964.166pmc: PMC1675967pubmed: 1125726google scholar: lookup
  19. UNIRE. [(accessed on 26 September 2024)]. Available online: https://www.unire.it/index.php/ita/cavallior.
  20. Schober P, Boer C, Schwarte LA. Correlation Coefficients: Appropriate Use and Interpretation.. Anesth. Analg. 2018;126:1763–1768.
    doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002864pubmed: 29481436google scholar: lookup
  21. Whitehead A, Léguillette R. How to Perform a Transtracheal Wash in the Field. Proceedings of the 61th Annual Convention of the AAEP Las Vegas, NV, USA. 5–9 December 2015; pp. 515–520.
  22. Beech J. Technique of Tracheobronchial Aspiration in the Horse.. Equine Vet. J. 1981;13:136–137.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1981.tb04144.xpubmed: 7250107google scholar: lookup
  23. Roy M-F, Lavoie J-P. Tools for the Diagnosis of Equine Respiratory Disorders.. Vet. Clin. N. Am. Equine Pract. 2003;19:1–17.
    doi: 10.1016/S0749-0739(02)00063-9pubmed: 12747658google scholar: lookup
  24. McGorum BC, Dixon PM. The Analysis and Interpretation of Equine Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) Cytology.. Equine Vet. Educ. 1994;6:203–209.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.1994.tb01136.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  25. Depecker M, Richard EA, Pitel P-H, Fortier G, Leleu C, Couroucé-Malblanc A. Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Standardbred Racehorses: Influence of Unilateral/Bilateral Profiles and Cut-off Values on Lower Airway Disease Diagnosis.. Vet. J. 2014;199:150–156.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.10.013pubmed: 24225534google scholar: lookup
  26. Williams KJ, Derksen FJ, de Feijter-Rupp H, Pannirselvam RR, Steel CM, Robinson NE. Regional Pulmonary Veno-Occlusion: A Newly Identified Lesion of Equine Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage.. Vet. Pathol. 2008;45:316–326.
    doi: 10.1354/vp.45-3-316pubmed: 18487488google scholar: lookup
  27. Hinchcliff KW, Morley PS, Jackson MA, Brown JA, Dredge AF, O’callaghan PA, McCaffrey JP, Slocombe RF, Clarke AF. Risk Factors for Exercise-induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42:228–234.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00245.xpubmed: 21059011google scholar: lookup
  28. McGilvray TA, Cardwell JM. Training Related Risk Factors for Exercise Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage in British National Hunt Racehorses.. Equine Vet. J. 2022;54:283–289.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13448pubmed: 33843093google scholar: lookup
  29. Sullivan SL, Anderson GA, Morley PS, Hinchcliff KW. Prospective Study of the Association between Exercise-induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage and Long-term Performance in Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Equine Vet. J. 2015;47:350–357.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12263pubmed: 24617564google scholar: lookup
  30. 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;30:503–515.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.13824pmc: PMC4913592pubmed: 26806374google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Bozzola C, Sala G, Stancari G, Ferrucci F, Zucca E. Comparison Between Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cytology for the Assessment of Airway Inflammation in Racehorses Affected by Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 5;15(17).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15172609pubmed: 40941404google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,113 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.