2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

A total of 482 cases horses, referred to a specialized ambulatory internal medicine practice in Europe, were assessed between June 2013 and December 2014. The horses were referred either for respiratory problems or loss of performance. For each case, an environmental evaluation, a clinical examination, an airway endoscopy, a tracheal wash (TW) and a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed. The TW and the BAL underwent cytologic evaluation and the TW was submitted for bacteriology and mycology. Diagnosis of IAD was established based on BAL fluid cytology, according to the ACVIM consensus statement definition. On both cytologic examinations, the presence of fungal elements (spores, conidiophores, hyphae) was recorded, as well as signs of active proliferation.