EQUINE | Abstracts
Association of Neutrophil Morphology
with Bacterial Isolates in Equine Tracheal
Wash Samples
N. A. Jocelyn C. E. Wylie M. Lean A.
Barrelet A. K. Foote
Background
Tracheal wash sample neutrophilia is common in
lower airway inflammation of various causes; however,
relevance of cytomorphological features to culture of
bacterial pathogens has not been established.
Objectives
To investigate whether the presence of nondegenerate
or degenerate neutrophils in tracheal washes is
associated with culture of bacteria and, if so, whether
this is influenced by age or temporal factors.
Study design
Cross‐sectional study.
Methods
Results
Sufficient data for inclusion in the multivariable model
for nondegenerate neutrophilia were available from
1100 horses. Culture of potentially pathogenic bac-
teria was associated with increased odds of degener-
ate neutrophilia compared with samples with nega-
tive culture (OR 4.5, 95% CI 3.1, 6.4, P‐value<0.001).
Horses over 9 years old had lower odds of having de-
generate neutrophilia than those aged 1–3 years (OR
0.6, 95% CI 0.4, 0.9, P‐value<0.02). In the spring/
summer, horses had reduced odds of a degenerate
neutrophilia compared with winter (OR 0.4, 95% CI
0.3, 0.7, P‐value <0.001).
Main limitations
Tracheal wash samples submitted to Rossdales LLP
from 1/1/2013 to 31/7/2015 were evaluated using
set criteria. Ne