equine asthma diagnosis

Question 1

how do you get samples from the resp system to diagnose equine asthma, what is the benefit of each method?

Answer 1

**trans-tracheal wash **
* Provides a sample representing both lungs
* Good screening test
* Preferred method for culture & sensitivity
* Diagnostic accuracy for mEA unknown…
If doing tracheal wash can do it with a endoscope, need to use a triple lumen catheter so that it is sterile. or can do it transtracheal and use a trocar

bronchoalveolar lavage:
* Provides a sample of one lung (terminal bronchi)
* Better for diffuse pathology - which asthma is
* Specific
* preferred method for EA diagnosis

bronchoalveolar lavage can be down with an endoscope or blind - advance until feel resistance as need to be in terminal bronchi

Question 2

what is the cytology of BALF in mEA?

Answer 2

three phenotypes:
* neutrophils >10%
* mast cells >5%
* eosinophils >5%

Question 3

what is the cytology of BALF in sEA?

Answer 3

• Neutrophils >25%
• in remission 10-20%
• degenerated with occasional vacuolation