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Recurrent Airway Obstruction (view source)
Revision as of 12:40, 26 August 2010
, 12:40, 26 August 2010→Laboratory Tests
ivis The severity of lung inflammation can be evaluated by cytological evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF; see chapter by Viel and Hewson for lavage and cytology techniques). In normal horses, lymphocytes and macrophages form the majority of cells in BALF and neutrophils comprise less than ten percent of cells. In horses with RAO or SPAOD, there is an increase in the percentage of neutrophils and, in severely affected animals, neutrophils comprise over 50 percent of cells and are not degenerate. Despite the large number of neutrophils in BALF, there is no evidence of bacterial infection.
ivis The severity of lung inflammation can be evaluated by cytological evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF; see chapter by Viel and Hewson for lavage and cytology techniques). In normal horses, lymphocytes and macrophages form the majority of cells in BALF and neutrophils comprise less than ten percent of cells. In horses with RAO or SPAOD, there is an increase in the percentage of neutrophils and, in severely affected animals, neutrophils comprise over 50 percent of cells and are not degenerate. Despite the large number of neutrophils in BALF, there is no evidence of bacterial infection.
Aspiration of tracheal mucus or a tracheal lavage can also be used to evaluate lung inflammation but it is less reliable than BALF. Because there can be increased numbers of neutrophils in the tracheal wash but not in BALF [52], it is wiser to base evaluation of peripheral lung inflammation on the cytology of BALF. Presumably increased numbers of neutrophils in the tracheal secretions reflect local tracheal inflammation that does not extend deeper into the lung. Mixed populations of bacteria are common in a tracheal wash and usually are of no significance.
===Other Tests===
===Other Tests===