Effect of transportation stress on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis in female horses.

The research investigates how stress from transportation impacts the results of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis in female horses, indicating a delayed inflammatory response in transport-stressed horses.

Background

• The study focuses on how transportation stress affects bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in female horses.
• Bronchoalveolar lavage is a technique where a fluid is introduced and then removed from the bronchioles and alveolar spaces for diagnostic purposes.
• In this study, the researchers performed four sequential bronchoalveolar lavages on 9 control horses and 8 transport-stressed horses, observing changes in fluid cytology, microbial content, and the function of pulmonary macrophages.

Observations and Findings

• The first noticeable impact is the increase in the number of inflammatory cells in the second bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from the control group. The study attributes this to irritation from the first lavage.
• However, this increased response is not observed in transport-stressed horses until five days after the transport. This delay is attributed to the stress of transportation.
• No significant difference is found in the microbial content and the function of the macrophages between the two groups.

Implications and Significance

• The research implies that transportation stress can influence the response of the horses’ respiratory system, as measured through bronchoalveolar lavage.
• This could influence diagnostic tests on horses that have been transported recently, potentially clouding the interpretation of results.
• Therefore, stress factors like transportation need to be taken into account when diagnosing horses using methods such as bronchoalveolar lavage.