Comparison of bacteriology and cytology of tracheal fluid samples collected by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration or via an endoscope using a plugged, guarded catheter.
Cytological and bacteriological results from tracheal fluid samples obtained endoscopically using a telescoping, plugged catheter (TPC) were compared with results from samples collected by percutaneous transtracheal aspiration (PTA). The TPC technique and PTA were performed in random order on 9 healthy Standardbred geldings. Three weeks later the procedures were performed on the same horses in the reverse order. The presence of oropharyngeal contamination was determined by quantitative bacteriology and quantification of squamous epithelial cells (SEC)/ml sample. The relative numbers of macrophages, haemosiderophages, giant cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils did not differ between techniques. The number of SEC/ml was greater in samples with more colony forming units/ml indicating that quantification of SEC provides evidence of the probable degree of oropharyngeal contamination. Fifteen out of the 18 TPC samples were free of contamination, indicating that the TPC can provide adequate samples for bacteriology. The results also indicate that tracheoscopy sometimes results in oropharyngeal contamination of the trachea, but that this does not affect the results of the TPC sample.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, PMB4 Narellan Delivery Centre, NSW, Australia.
R M
RM
Christley
D R
DR
Hodgson
R J
RJ
Rose
S W
SW
Reid
J L
JL
Hodgson
D000818:Animals; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000382:microbiology*