title: Influence of age on bronchoscopic findings in healthy beagle dogs.
abstract: The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of age on bronchoscopic features and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cellularity in dogs. Thirty healthy beagle dogs from three age groups were included: young dogs (10 months to 4.5 years of age; n=8), middle-aged dogs (5-8 years old; n=13) and older dogs (>8 years; n=9). Haematology, thoracic radiography, bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed; bronchoscopic findings were scored and BALF total and differential cell counts were determined. The total bronchoscopic score was higher in older dogs; these dogs had more irregular bronchial mucosa, more prominent mucosal vessels and bronchiectasis. Younger dogs had a higher percentage of neutrophils in BALF compared with middle-aged and old dogs and a higher percentage of lymphocytes in BALF compared with middle-aged dogs. The results show that age has an effect on bronchoscopic features of airways and the composition of BALF in the dog.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Boulevard de Colonster 20(B44), 4000 Liège, Belgium. emercier@ulg.ac.be
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolognin
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tual
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clercx
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000662:veterinary*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018655:Lymphocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils