Collection and evaluation of tracheobronchial washes in the horse

Abstract

Summary A flexible endoscope was used to obtain 223 tracheal washes from 191 horses in three clinical categories. Total cell counts, cytological and bacteriological examinations are reported and the features of the main cell types encountered described. The presence and degree of inflammatory airway disease was determined by a semiquantitative assessment of the neutrophil response and was an important consideration in the interpretation of the bacteriological results. Potential pathogens were isolated from approximately 30 per cent of samples. Cytological changes suggestive of lungworm infestation, virus infection and chronic airway disease are described. Haemosiderophages, indicative of pulmonary haemorrhage, were found in all horses in full training. The techniques used were rapid and simple and were found to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of pulmonary disease. Sequential samples were useful for monitoring the progress of clinical cases.

Exercise-induced Arteriovenous Intrapulmonary Shunting in Dogs

“…In contrast to our findings, no microspheres were detected in the aortic blood samples, suggesting no exercise-induced arteriovenous shunts in these animals. It is important to note that thoroughbred horses have a somewhat unique pulmonary vasculature in that they are the only mammal that consistently demonstrates exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (25) and, contrary to humans (3, 7) and dogs (26), thoroughbred horses do not demonstrate a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance above moderate intensity exercise (27). Alternatively, methodologic limitations of Manohar and Goetz (24) may have also reduced the sensitivity needed to detect arteriovenous shunts in thoroughbred horses.…”

Cytological and bacteriological evaluation of transendoscopic guttural pouch lavages in clinically healthy horses

“…Studies dealing with the differential cell count in washes of various parts of the airways assessed possible pathologies according to the number of neutrophils as their increase may be connected with the presence of bacteria (Whitwell and Greet, 1984;Chiesa et al, 1999aChiesa et al, ,b, 2002 as well as allergens and viruses (Burrell et al, 1996). The reactivity of lavages in our study was classified according to Chiesa et al (1999a,b) for simplicity and comparative purposes.…”

The examination of tracheal wash fluid and brochoalveolar lavage fluid obtains important information regarding type and severity of lung diseases

“…Komplikationen bei dieser Technik sind selten, allerdings kann es zur Bildung eines subkutanen, peritrachealen oder mediastinalen Emphysems kommen. Auch wurde über subkutane Infektionen durch Kontamination der Wundöffnung berichtet (Whitwell und Greet 1984, Sweeney 1999 (Wehrli et al 2000). Dabei wird das Endoskop zuerst in die Trachea eingeführt und die weiteren Aufzweigungen der Luftwege (Bifurcatio tracheae, Bronchien) mittels Lidocain (0,4 %), das durch den Arbeitskanal appliziert wird, desensibilisiert (Hoffman und Viel 1997 Beurteilung der verschiedenen Zellen/ Bestandteile in TBS und BAL Das TBS von gesunden Pferden ist zell-und schleimarm (Bain 1997, Mair et al 1987, Larson und Busch 1985, Derksen et al 1989.…”