diagnostic value of transtracheal lavage: I- Cytopathological and parasitological findings of lavage fluids in some respiratory affections in equines

Transtracheal lavage procedure was used to obtain samples of respiratory secretions from tracheobronchial level of apparently normal conscious horses and donkeys as well as from horses and donkeys suffering from some respiratory infections. The sampling technique was safe and rapidly applicable without complications. The cellular composition of the lavage fluids was assessed and the parasitological findings were determined. There was a significant increase [P < 0.001] in total cell count of lavage fluids in cases of bronchopneumonia and aspiration pneumonia both in horses and donkeys. A signficant increase [P < 0.001] in total cell count was also observed in cases of lungworm in donkeys. The differential cell count revealed a significant increase [P < 0.001] in neutrophils percent and a significant decrease [P < 0.001] in macrophage percent in cases of bronchopneumonia and aspiration pneumonia. A significant increase [P < 0.001] in eosinophils and mast cells percent were observed in cases of lungworm in donkeys. Parasitologically, the eggs containing larvae of lungworm were detected, for the first time, in lavage fluids in donkeys and the hatched larvae were identified [Dictyocaulus arnfieldi]. In conclusion, lavage fluid examination provides a simple and valuable aid to the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in equine

Urea-ammonia toxicity: 2- Some hematological and biochemical investigations on lactulose concentrate treatment

Urea-ammonia toxicities were induced in 3 groups of rumen fistulated sheep. The toxic signs were associated with the pathologically elevated blood ammonia N. The stress of toxicity provokes a significant [P>0.01] increase of P.C.V. percent, haemoglobin contents and blood glucose level. Also there was a significant [P>0.01] increase of the S-AST and S-ALT activities. Both rumen evacuation and lactulose concentrate administration, but not acetic acid treatment, resulted in a decline of the pathologically elevated blood ammonia-N with subsequent improvement of the intoxicated animals. The changed blood constituents returned to more or less normal values and the animals expected to be clinically recovered