Association between cytology and endoscopy of guttural pouches: a prospective study on 173 horses
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Guttural pouch (GP) disorders are clinically important in horses, yet the relationship between endoscopic findings and GP cytology remains poorly defined. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To establish reference cytological values for GP lavage fluid in horses and to investigate associations between inflammatory cytology and endoscopic findings. ANIMAL: Asymptomatic racing horses sampled in the field and horses referred for investigation of respiratory disorders. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Horses underwent clinical examination, upper airway endoscopy, and bilateral transendoscopic GP lavage. A GP inflammation score (0-15) was developed based on endoscopic appearance in the GP. Cytology was performed on GP pooled samples. Control horses were defined by the absence of clinical, hematologic, microbiological, and endoscopic abnormalities. Associations were analyzed using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: A total of 173 horses were included, of which 19 were controls. Control GP fluid cytology exhibited no or rare cells (median 30 cells/mm3; range 10-90) which were either neutrophils, macrophages, or lymphocytes. The remaining 154 horses were classified as "abnormal" (ABN) and subdivided into 2 groups according to GP fluid neutrophil proportions: group ABN1 (<1% neutrophils, n = 101, median 30 cells/mm3; range 5-360) and group ABN2 (neutrophils ≥ 1%, n = 53, median 100 cells/mm3; range 30-600). Horses in the ABN2 group showed more frequent GP lymphoid hyperplasia, secretions, and purulent exudate than horses in ABN1. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cytological inflammation correlates with endoscopic evidence of GP inflammation.
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BibTeX
@article{barbazanges2026association,
title = {{Association between cytology and endoscopy of guttural pouches: a prospective study on 173 horses}},
author = {Pauline Barbazanges and Eric Richard and Charlotte Debonnaire and Gabin Le Digarcher and Louise Lemonnier and Marie-Pierre Toquet and Anne Couroucé},
journal = {Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1093/jvimsj/aalag179},
url = {https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-05734088v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association between cytology and endoscopy of guttural pouches: a prospective study on 173 horses
AU - Pauline Barbazanges
AU - Eric Richard
AU - Charlotte Debonnaire
AU - Gabin Le Digarcher
AU - Louise Lemonnier
AU - Marie-Pierre Toquet
AU - Anne Couroucé
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
DO - 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag179
UR - https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-05734088v1
AB - BACKGROUND: Guttural pouch (GP) disorders are clinically important in horses, yet the relationship between endoscopic findings and GP cytology remains poorly defined. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To establish reference cytological values for GP lavage fluid in horses and to investigate associations between inflammatory cytology and endoscopic findings. ANIMAL: Asymptomatic racing horses sampled in the field and horses referred for investigation of respiratory disorders. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study. Horses underwent clinical examination, upper airway endoscopy, and bilateral transendoscopic GP lavage. A GP inflammation score (0-15) was developed based on endoscopic appearance in the GP. Cytology was performed on GP pooled samples. Control horses were defined by the absence of clinical, hematologic, microbiological, and endoscopic abnormalities. Associations were analyzed using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: A total of 173 horses were included, of which 19 were controls. Control GP fluid cytology exhibited no or rare cells (median 30 cells/mm3; range 10-90) which were either neutrophils, macrophages, or lymphocytes. The remaining 154 horses were classified as "abnormal" (ABN) and subdivided into 2 groups according to GP fluid neutrophil proportions: group ABN1 (<1% neutrophils, n = 101, median 30 cells/mm3; range 5-360) and group ABN2 (neutrophils ≥ 1%, n = 53, median 100 cells/mm3; range 30-600). Horses in the ABN2 group showed more frequent GP lymphoid hyperplasia, secretions, and purulent exudate than horses in ABN1. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cytological inflammation correlates with endoscopic evidence of GP inflammation.
SN - 0891-6640
ER -