• M Wichtel, D Gomez, S Burton, J Wichtel, and A Hoffman.
• Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
• Equine Vet. J. 2016 Jul 1; 48 (4): 466-71.

Reasons For Performing StudyAgreement between airway reactivity measured by flowmetric plethysmography and histamine bronchoprovocation, and lower airway inflammation measured by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology, has not been studied in horses with suspected inflammatory airway disease (IAD).ObjectivesWe tested the hypothesis that airway reactivity is associated with BAL cytology in horses presenting for unexplained poor performance and/or chronic cough.Study DesignProspective clinical study.MethodsForty-five horses, predominantly young Standardbred racehorses, presenting for unexplained poor performance or chronic cough, underwent endoscopic evaluation, tracheal wash, flowmetric plethysmography with histamine bronchoprovocation and BAL. Histamine response was measured by calculating PC35, the concentration of nebulised histamine eliciting an increase in Δflow of 35%.ResultsIn this population, there was no significant correlation between histamine response and cell populations in BAL cytology. When airway hyperreactivity (AHR) was defined as ≥35% increase in Δflow at a histamine concentration of <6 mg/ml, 24 of the 45 horses (53%) were determined to have AHR. Thirty-three (73%) had either abnormal BAL cytology or AHR, and were diagnosed with IAD on this basis. Of horses diagnosed with IAD, 9 (27%) had an abnormal BAL, 11 (33%) had AHR and 13 (39%) had both.ConclusionsAirway reactivity and BAL cytology did not show concordance in this population of horses presenting for unexplained poor performance and/or chronic cough. Failure to include tests of airway reactivity may lead to underdiagnosis of IAD in young Standardbred racehorses that present with clinical signs suggestive of IAD.© 2015 EVJ Ltd.

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