Airway Diagnostics

Immunohistochemical Expression of Neurokinin-A and Interleukin-8 in the Bronchial Epithelium of Horses with Severe Equine Asthma Syndrome during Asymptomatic, Exacerbation, and Remission Phase

“…Collateral diagnostic investigations with additional tests, such as an airway endoscopy or lung function evaluation, can confirm and further characterize the diagnostic suspect of severe equine asthma. Among these additional tests, the cytological examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is still considered as a ‘gold standard’ in the diagnosis of severe lower airway inflammation in the horse [ 2 , 6 , 16 , 18 ].…”

“…In exacerbation of severe equine asthma, the horses show dyspnea at rest, as revealed by a maximum intrapleural pressure >15 cm H 2 O caused by bronchoconstriction, mucosal swelling and mucus accumulation [ 11 ], and inflammation of the small airways, in which neutrophils exceed 25% in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology [ 2 ]. The definitive diagnosis of severe equine asthma is usually based on BALF cytology with the presence of lower airway inflammation, characterized by total nucleated cell count with mild increased numbers of neutrophils [ 12 , 13 , 14 ] and lymphocytes, and by increased mast cell or eosinophilic counts [ 15 , 16 ]. Therefore, two different cytological phenotypes are recognized in severe equine asthma: a classical neutrophilic phenotype and a paucigranulocytic phenotype.…”

“…However, a positive correlation exists between the intensity of airway hyperreactivity and the quantity of chemical mediators released locally in the lung [ 21 ]. Generally, airway inflammation involves activation of a pathogen-specific inflammatory cell, the modulation of gene transcription factors, and release of inflammatory mediators [ 16 ]. Commonly accepted airway inflammatory mediators involved in airway disease include histamine, bradykinin, prostaglandin, leukotrienes, platelet-activating factor, and endothelin-1 [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

“…Neutrophilic bronchiolitis is one of the main lesions of asthma-affected horse’s response to aeroallergens. Within the airways, neutrophils likely contribute to bronchoconstriction, mucus hypersecretion, and pulmonary remodeling by release of pro-inflammatory mediators, including the cytokines, among which interleukins 8 (IL-8) [ 16 ]. Determining which cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of EA may help in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.…”

A One Health Approach to Simple Liquid Sample Handling for Respiratory Based -Omics Analysis; Tracheal Wash and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

“…Racehorses commonly develop airway in ammation and /or exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage during training, with prevalence rates as high as 70-80% and 100% respectively, resulting in a signi cant impact on animal welfare and the racehorse industry [1][2][3] . Cytological analysis of tracheal wash (TW) and bronchoalveolar lavage uid (BALF) is the most commonly applied method of assessing lower respiratory tract health of the horse and helps to guide therapy 4,5 . The diagnostic application of this technique includes the identi cation of common equine airway disorders of the horse, including equine asthma and exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage 6,7 .…”