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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2024; doi: 10.1111/jvim.17169

Time to resolution of airway inflammation caused by bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy horses.

Abstract: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a common procedure for evaluation of the equine lower airways. Time to resolution of post-BAL inflammation has not been clearly defined. Objective: Residual inflammation, evident by changes in immune cell populations and inflammatory cytokines, will resolve by 72 hours after BAL. Methods: Six adult, healthy, institution-owned horses. Methods: Randomized, complete cross-over design. Each horse underwent 3 paired BALs, including a baseline and then 48, 72, and 96 hours later, with a 7-day washout between paired BALs. Each sample underwent cytological evaluation and cytokine concentrations were determined by a commercially available multiplex bead immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed by multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression analysis. Data are reported as marginal means and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Neutrophil, eosinophil and mast cell percentages were not significantly different at any time points. Macrophage percentages were higher at 72 hours (45.0 [95% CI, 41.6-48.4]%) and 96 hours (45.3 [95% CI, 42.9-47.7]%) vs baseline (37.4 [95% CI, 33.5-41.4]%; P < .001 and P = .01, respectively), and at 72 hours and 96 hours vs 48 hours (31.9 [95% CI, 28.1-35.6]%; P < .001). Neutrophil percentage was not significantly increased at 48 hours (P = .11). Interleukin (IL)-6 concentration was increased at 72 hours (5.22 [95% CI, 3.44-6.99] pg/mL) vs 48 hours (4.38 [95% CI, 2.99-5.78] pg/mL; P < .001). Conclusions: Significant lung inflammation was not detected at 72 and 96 hours, suggesting that repeating BAL at 72 hours or more can be done without concern of residual inflammation.
© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-28 PubMed ID: 39198933DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17169Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

The article examines the time taken for horses’ airways to recover from inflammation caused by a procedure known as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The findings suggest that significant inflammation was not detected 72 and 96 hours after the procedure, indicating that it is safe to perform a repeat BAL after this time without concerns of residual inflammation.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study was carried out on six healthy, adult, institution-owned horses. Each horse underwent three pairs of BALs (washing out of bronchial tubes), at different intervals: baseline, 48 hours, 72 hours and 96 hours after the procedure, followed by a resting period of seven days between each BAL.
  • The samples collected were analysed for cytological evaluation and cytokine concentrations, the latter of which was determined by a commercially available multiplex bead immunoassay.
  • A comprehensive statistical analysis using multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression analysis was used to interpret the data. The results are presented as marginal means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

  • The percentages of neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells did not show any significant change over the different time points.
  • The macrophage percentages were notably higher at the 72nd and the 96th hours (45.0% and 45.3%) when compared to the baseline (37.4%), and also when compared with the percentages at 48 hours (31.9%).
  • There was no noticeable increase in neutrophil percentages after 48 hours.
  • The concentration of a certain cytokine, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), rose at 72 hours (5.22 pg/mL) compared to the level at 48 hours (4.38 pg/mL).

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that significant lung inflammation was not observed 72 and 96 hours post-BAL, and suggested that repeating BAL after 72 hours does not pose a risk of residual inflammation.
  • The increased macrophage percentages and IL-6 concentrations noted at 72 hours may be part of the normal immunological response to BAL and do not indicate pathological inflammation. Hence, it is considered safe for veterinarians to repeat BAL in horses after a minimum of 72 hours post-procedure.
  • This study provides important guidelines for the use of BAL in equine healthcare and research settings, and may contribute to improved procedural safety and animal welfare in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Woodrow JS, Hopster K, Palmisano M, Payette F, Kulp J, Stefanovski D, Nolen-Walston R. (2024). Time to resolution of airway inflammation caused by bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.17169

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Woodrow, Jane S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Hopster, Klaus
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Palmisano, Megan
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Payette, Flavie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kulp, Jeaneen
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Stefanovski, Darko
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Nolen-Walston, Rose
  • Department of Clinical Sciences-New Bolton Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.

Grant Funding

  • Raymond Firestone Trust Research Grant

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Lendl L, Wirth C, Merle R, Barton AK. Influence of a Standardized Lunging Exercise Test on BALF Cytology in Horses Suffering from Mild-Moderate Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 19;15(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15162428pubmed: 40867756google scholar: lookup
  2. Holley L, Creasey HN, Bedenice D, Reed S, Romualdo da Silva DR, Trautwein V, Mazan M, Widmer G. Nebulization of 2% lidocaine has no detectable impact on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. PLoS One 2025;20(1):e0316079.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316079pubmed: 39854381google scholar: lookup
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