title: Age-related variation in the cellular composition of equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports reveal variation in the cellular composition of equine bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the profiles of BALF from horses to assess age-related differences. Serial BALF samples were collected from the same individuals over a one-year period to identify changes in individual animals as they aged.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collection of BALF was performed on horses aged one week and one, 2, 6, and 12 months. Total nucleated cell count (TNCC), protein concentration, and cytology were assessed. Longitudinal analysis was performed and compared to healthy adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Foals at one week and 6 months of age had significantly higher TNCC than adults (medians: 320/μL, 285/μL, and 90/μL, respectively); no differences in total protein were found. Foals at one month had the highest proportion of macrophages (median: 87.3%), differing significantly from both yearlings and adults (medians: 45.5% and 48.7%, respectively). Foals aged one week and one month had significantly lower proportions of lymphocytes than yearlings and adults (medians: 3.2% and 4.7% vs 43.2% and 45.8%, respectively). Eosinophil percentage was lowest in foals aged one week, one month, and 2 months (median: 0.0%) and highest in foals aged 6 months (median: 2.2%). Mast cell percentages were highest in yearlings and adults (medians: 2.2% and 3.3%, respectively) and neutrophil percentage was highest in foals aged one week (13.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytologic profiles of BALF from foals and adult horses differed considerably. Significant changes in TNCC and percentages of lymphocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils occurred with age.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hostetter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gilbertie
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wiechert
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Doug E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.|Departments of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sponseller
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male
keywords: Cytology; foal; normal cytology; pulmonary disease; total nucleated cell count