# Investigating bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology in relation to pathogen identification and consolidation depth in calves

## TL;DR

This study examines how bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytology relates to pathogen types and lung consolidation depth in calves with respiratory infections.

## Contribution

The study identifies associations between cytological findings, pathogen groups, and consolidation depth in calves with respiratory disease.

## Key findings

- Neutrophil percentages were higher in viral and M. bovis groups compared to opportunistic bacterial infections.
- Intracellular bacteria presence increased the odds of opportunistic bacterial infection detection.
- Consolidation depth was associated with higher neutrophil percentages and mast cell presence.

## Abstract

Small volume, non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (nBAL) is used for airway sampling in calves with respiratory tract infection (RTI). However, the usefulness of cytological analysis of this fluid to indicate bacterial RTI is unclear. Disease severity may influence these findings.

Investigate the associations among pathogen groups (none, viral, opportunistic bacterial infection [OB] with or without viral, Mycoplasmopsis bovis with or without OB or viral) and cytological findings, and the association between consolidation depth and cytological findings.

Eighty-seven calves showing at least 1 clinical sign of RTI from herds experiencing an outbreak of respiratory disease.

Cross-sectional study. Physical examination, thoracic ultrasonography, nBAL, bacteriology, nanopore sequencing, and cytology were performed. Bayesian hierarchical models were used to assess associations.

The probability of belonging to a certain pathogen group was influenced by neutrophil percentage. Viral (median, 75.9%; interquartile range [IQR], 24.0) and M. bovis (median, 72.7%; IQR, 21.2) groups showed consistently high neutrophil percentages, whereas variability was higher in the OB group (median, 68.3%; IQR, 31.7%). Intracellular bacteria (≥1% of white blood cells, odds ratio [OR], 12.5; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.46-142) increased the odds of OB isolation. The probability of different consolidation depths was affected by neutrophil percentage, with deeper lesions showing higher percentages (> 3 cm vs. < 1 cm: OR, 1.06; 95% CrI, 1.01-1.12), and by the presence of mast cells.

The neutrophil percentage alone is likely insufficient to differentiate bacterial from viral infections. Intracellular bacteria might be useful to indicate OB. Evaluation of an optimal threshold could further evaluate this possibility.