A new endoscopic approach for bronchoalveolar lavage compared with traditional trans tracheal lavage for BRD diagnostics

Abstract

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a very common and useful diagnostic approach for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) management. Traditionally the lavage is carried out through the trachea (trans-tracheal lavage - TAL). A new hand held multiscope (endoscope with several different functions; ivetscope) has been designed for a more convenient way of BAL under field conditions. The aim of this study was to compare 2 different methods of alveolar lung lavage - the puncture of the trachea with the transtracheal lavage against the oral-laryngeal method.