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Australian veterinary journal2004; 81(11); 685-687; doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12540.x

Comparison of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage in racehorses. 2. Evaluation of the diagnostic significance of neutrophil percentage.

Abstract: To determine whether diagnosis of airway inflammation, using cut-off percentages for neutrophils, differs when based on samples from tracheal aspirate (TA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) collected concomitantly from the same racehorse. Methods: Retrospective case series of 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses in race training, but showing poor performance. PROCEDURE TA and BAL samples were collected from all horses 1 to 2 h after high-speed treadmill exercise. Aliquots of the retrieved fluid were cytocentrifuged and smears stained with Diff-Quik. The mean percentage of neutrophils was calculated. Diagnostic cut-off points were set at 20% for TA samples and 5% for BAL samples. Agreement in the interpretations between the two techniques was analysed. Results: In 19 of 51 paired samples (37%) there were differences in diagnostic interpretation between TA and BAL samples. Of these, airway inflammation was indicated only by the TA sample in 13 and only by the BAL in 6. Conclusions: TA and BAL samples give important information about different regions of the airway, but neither should be used alone for the diagnosis of inflammation of the entire lung. The limitations of these procedures mean that both samples should be collected when it is desired to cytologically evaluate the entire lower airway.
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Publication Date: 2004-04-17 PubMed ID: 15086110DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12540.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • 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 article investigates the difference in diagnosing airway inflammation in racehorses using tracheal aspirate (TA) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples. The study discovers that both sampling methods nominally offer useful information about different regions of the airway, but neither should be used exclusively to diagnose inflammation throughout all regions of the lung.

Research Methods

  • The research involves a retrospective case series that consisted of 48 young Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. These horses were in race training but were presenting signs of poor performance.
  • Both TA and BAL samples were gathered from each horse; this occurred 1 to 2 hours after vigorous treadmill exercise. Portions of the collected fluid were then centrifuged and stained smears were analyzed.
  • The average proportion of neutrophils was calculated from each sample – bred with the diagnostic cut-off points being set at 20% for TA samples and 5% for BAL samples.
  • The interpretations of the two methods were compared to determine their consistency.

Research Findings

  • Out of the 51 paired samples, 19 pairs (37%) exhibited differences in diagnostic interpretation when using TA and BAL samples. In these cases, airway inflammation was identified only by the TA sample in 13 instances and solely by BAL in 6 instances.

Conclusions

  • TA and BAL samples each offer critical information about different sections of the airway. However, it’s insufficient to use either technique exclusively for diagnosing inflammation throughout the lung. Their limitations suggest that both TA and BAL samples should be collected when planning to cytologically evaluate the entire lower airway. In this way, a more comprehensive and accurate picture of the horse’s airway health can be obtained.

Cite This Article

APA
Malikides N, Hughes KJ, Hodgson DR, Hodgson JL. (2004). Comparison of tracheal aspirates and bronchoalveolar lavage in racehorses. 2. Evaluation of the diagnostic significance of neutrophil percentage. Aust Vet J, 81(11), 685-687. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2003.tb12540.x

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 0005-0423
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 81
Issue: 11
Pages: 685-687

Researcher Affiliations

Malikides, N
  • University Veterinary Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, PMB 4 Narellan Delivery Centre, Narellan, New South Wales 2567.
Hughes, K J
    Hodgson, D R
      Hodgson, J L

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
        • Exercise Test / veterinary
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Neutrophils / 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 19 times.
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