Effect of transportation stress on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis in female horses

Four bronchoalveolar lavages were performed sequentially on 9 control and 8 transport-stressed female horses. Alterations in results of fluid cytologic analyses, microbial content, and phagocyte function of recovered pulmonary macrophages in all horses were determined. Seemingly, absolute and relative increase in the number of inflammatory cells detected in the second bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of control horses was the result of irritation of the first lavage. This increased response was not observed in transport-stressed horses until 5 days after transport (third lavage; 10 days after initial lavage). Seemingly, delayed inflammatory response was the result of the transport stress. Microbial content and macrophage function were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P greater than 0.05).