Tracheobronchial aspirates were obtained by bronchoscope from 29 two-year-old Thoroughbreds immediately after long-distance transportation for examination for cells and bacteria. A number of neutrophils were observed in the aspirates of 6 horses, and a number of different bacteria were isolated from most of the horses. Five of the 6 horses (83.3%) with numerous neutrophils showed a marked increase in rectal temperature (≥39.0°C) or peripheral leukocyte count (≥15,000 cells/µl) immediately after

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... transportation, while only 2 of 23 horses (8.7%) with almost no change in neutrophil count showed a marked increase in peripheral leukocyte count (≥15,000 cells/µl). Results of this study indicate that measurement of rectum temperature and peripheral leukocyte counts after transportation can be used as a practical index for diagnosis of respiratory infectious disease associated with transportation.