Cytological and microbiologic evaluation of bronchoalveolar lavage in healthy dogs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to standardize the transtracheal technique to collect the broncoalveolar lavage fluid without broncoscopy and to determine the normal cytologic and microbiologic findings of the lower respiratory tract wash, in healthy dogs. Thirty adult dogs (12 males and 18 females), age from one to eight years old, were submitted to sedation in order to permit the bronchoalveolar lavage. Bacterial and fungal microorganisms were isolated in 46.67% and 16.67 % of the lavage samples, respectively. In 43.3% out of the samples were isolated two or more microorganisms. Mean and standard deviation of colony-forming units (CFU)/ml were 21540±55298 and 13.33±43.4 for bacterial and fungal organisms, respectively. In cytological evaluation, alveolar macrophage was the predominant cell. Small amounts of neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, epithelial cells and bacteria were observed, besides positive correlation between macrophage score and bacteria CFU. The technique was adequated and showed wide margin of security.