Association between fungal detection and clinical examination
The prevalence of fungal elements either in TW or BALF by culture was not significantly associated with clinical signs (cough, nasal discharge, dyspnea, wheezes or crackles). Horses with cough were significantly less likely to exhibit fungi by cytology in TW and BALF (Table 3). Horses with a tracheal mucus score >2 were significantly less likely to exhibit fungi by cytology in TW. Horses with a tracheal mucus score >2 had 2-fold higher odds of having a positive fungal culture in BALF. Horses with an increased proportion of neutrophils in BALF had 2-fold higher odds of exhibiting fungi by culture in BALF. The magnitude of inflammatory neutrophilic reaction, when present (> 10%), was however not significantly associated with fungal detection in BALF (Table S3). No association was found between fungal detection by cytology in BALF and the proportion of neutrophils, nor between fungal detection (by culture or cytology) in BALF and the proportion of mast cells.