EQUINE PULMONARY-DISEASE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF 300 REFERRED CASES.3. ANCILLARY DIAGNOSTIC-FINDINGS

The majority of 270 adult horses with chronic pulmonary diseases had e xcessive volumes of respiratory secretions (RS) present in their trach ea, elevated tracheal RS neutrophil ratios and lowered arterial oxygen partial pressures. Some control horses, had inexplicably elevated tra cheal RS neutrophil ratios, Only the chronic obstructive pulmonary dis ease (COPD) affected group had significantly elevated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophil ratios. Maximal intrapleural pressure c hanges (max dPpl) were raised in 48% of COPD cases and rarely with oth er pulmonary disorders. Arterial pH or carbon deride partial pressures values were seldom altered with any pulmonary diseases. Tracheal RS a nd BALF eosinophil ratios were raised with lungworm infection and idio pathic pulmonary eosinophilia.