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Comparison of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage in racehorses. 1. Evaluation of cytological stains and the percentage of mast cells and eosinophils.
Abstract: To compare a fast Romanowsky cytological stain (Diff-Quik) and Leishman's stain for the detection of mast cells in samples from the lower airways of racehorses, and to compare the proportion of mast cells and eosinophils in the total inflammatory cells in tracheal aspirate (TA) with those in paired bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples. Methods: Retrospective case series of 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. Methods: Fifty-one paired TA and BAL samples were collected after treadmill exercise from 48 horses with poor racing performance. Two slides were prepared from each sample; one was stained with Diff-Quik stain and the other with Leishman's stain. Differential cell counts of eosinophils and mast cells were recorded from each slide. Comparison of the suitability of the stains for the detection of mast cells, and comparisons of eosinophil and mast cell percentages in TA and BAL samples were analysed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon matched pairs test. Results: Percentages of mast cells were significantly higher in Leishman than in Diff-Quik stained slides in both TA (P = 0.03) and BAL samples (P < 0.0001). Mast cell percentages were significantly higher in BAL than in TA samples using Leishman's stain (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in eosinophil percentages between TA and BAL samples (P = 0.07). Conclusions: Fast Romanowsky type stains (for example Diff-Quik) are not appropriate for the detection of mast cells in samples from the equine lower respiratory tract. Therefore, a metachromatic stain that reliably identifies mast cells (for example Leishman's) should be used if evaluation of mast cells in lower respiratory tract is undertaken. Mast cells are predominantly found in the distal small airways and alveoli sampled with a BAL. In contrast, eosinophils appear to be evenly distributed in the lower respiratory tract. However, high percentages of eosinophils are occasionally found only in TA samples. We recommend that both a TA and BAL be used for the evaluation of eosinophils and mast cells within the equine lower respiratory tract.
Publication Date: 2004-04-17 PubMed ID: 15086109DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12538.xGoogle 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.
- Comparative Study
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Animal Study
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage
- Comparative Study
- Cytology
- Diagnostic Technique
- Eosinophils
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Research
- Inflammation
- Inflammatory Response
- Mast Cells
- Racehorses
- Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Health
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
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 study compares two different cytological stains and sampling methods to detect mast cells and evaluate proportions of inflammatory cells in the lower airways of racehorses. Leishman’s stain was more reliable in detecting mast cells and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples exhibited higher percentages of mast cells compared to tracheal aspirate (TA) samples.
Research Methodology
The research comprises a retrospective case series involving 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses experiencing poor racing performance. The researchers collected 51 paired TA and BAL samples from these horses after treadmill exercise. They prepared two slides from each sample, one stained with Diff-Quik (a fast Romanowsky cytological stain), and another with Leishman’s stain. From each slide, they recorded differential cell counts of eosinophils and mast cells.
Comparison of Cytological Stains and Sample Types
The study did a comparison on:
- The suitability of Diff-Quik and Leishman’s stains for mast cell detection
- The percentages of eosinophil and mast cells in both TA and BAL samples.
They used the non-parametric Wilcoxon matched pairs test for the analysis.
Results and Conclusions
Results showed significantly higher percentages of mast cells in Leishman stained slides in both TA and BAL samples, compared to those stained with Diff-Quik. Moreover, mast cell percentages were significantly higher in BAL than in TA samples using Leishman’s stain.
No significant difference was observed in eosinophil percentages between TA and BAL samples.
Implications
The research findings suggest that Fast Romanowsky type stains, such as Diff-Quik, fail to reliably identify mast cells in the equine lower respiratory tract. Thus, this study recommends using a metachromatic stain that reliably identifies mast cells, for example, Leishman’s, when evaluating mast cells in the equine lower respiratory tract.
The study also found that mast cells are more prevalent in the distal small airways and alveoli that are reached through a BAL while eosinophils appear to be evenly distributed in the lower respiratory tract.
Therefore, both a TA and BAL should be employed for thorough evaluation of eosinophils and mast cells within the equine lower respiratory tract.
Cite This Article
APA
Hughes KJ, Malikides N, Hodgson DR, Hodgson JL.
(2004).
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, 81(11), 681-684.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12538.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Veterinary Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, PMB 4 Narellan Delivery Centre, Narellan, New South Wales 2567.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
- Bronchoscopy / veterinary
- Eosinophils / cytology
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Mast Cells / cytology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Pneumonia / diagnosis
- Pneumonia / veterinary
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Retrospective Studies
- Staining and Labeling / veterinary
- Trachea / cytology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Lakshminarayana S, Sowmya SV, Rao RS. Efficacy of Csaba stain to demonstrate mature and immature mast cells in oral inflammatory lesions: An in-vitro study. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2022 Oct-Dec;26(4):483-487.
- Shawaf T, Almubarak A, Alhumam N, Almathen F, Hussen J. Cytological analysis of tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in health and respiratory disease in dromedary camels. PeerJ 2021;9:e11723.
- Bond S, Léguillette R, Richard EA, Couetil L, Lavoie JP, Martin JG, Pirie RS. Equine asthma: Integrative biologic relevance of a recently proposed nomenclature. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Nov;32(6):2088-2098.
- Rossi H, Virtala AM, 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.
- Karagianni AE, Kapetanovic R, Summers KM, McGorum BC, Hume DA, Pirie RS. Comparative transcriptome analysis of equine alveolar macrophages. Equine Vet J 2017 May;49(3):375-382.
- 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.
- 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).
- Hansen S, Otten ND, Ceron JJ, González-Arostegui LG, Peres-Rubio C. Redox Biomarker Variations With Severity of Asthma in Horses Across Different Sample Types. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70031.
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