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.