Inflammatory cells and ferruginous bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage in urban dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether high levels of atmospheric pollution modify the inflammatory cell count of the canine lung and to detect the presence of ferruginous bodies (FB) in the respiratory system.


METHODS
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on dogs from four different areas of Mexico City and a rural area. With the BAL fluid recovered, total and differential cell counts were made, and ferruginous bodies were isolated by sodium hypochlorite digestion. They were counted by light microscopy and evaluated as a marker of exposure to particulate pollutants.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the total cell count or in the macrophage number between the five groups. The neutrophil count was statistically higher in dogs from the southwest area as compared to the northeast and rural areas (P < .05). The lymphocyte count was significantly greater in the southwest, also. The northeast part of the city showed the highest number of FB in BAL fluids.


CONCLUSIONS
The most polluted areas, in terms of particulate matter, were the northeast and the northwest; those are the locations of heavy industry. In contrast, in the southwest, where more inflammation was seen, the highest levels of ozone were registered during the year.
Vanda
B
B
Mexican Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Veterinary Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico.
de Buen
N
N
Jasso
R
R
Valero
G
G
Vargas
M H
MH
Olmos
R
R
Arreola
J L
JL
Santillán
P
P
Alonso
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D004285:Dogs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000737:chemistry; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005293:Ferritins