الفهرس 
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Abstract
Epithelial lining fluid (ELF) from the alveoli and airways could be used as diagnostic tool for the lower respiratory tract diseases. This study was designed to analyze the various components of ELF to get information about lower respiratory diseases of dogs. For this purpose 85 dogs were used. Dogs were divided into control groups and diseased groups which were sub-grouped upon the final diagnosis and ELF collection method. Blood samples were used to perform hematological examination. Cytological, biochemical and microbiological examinations of ELF were also carried out. Results revealed sensitivity of ELF to diagnose lower respiratory diseases, especially when using of urea adjusted cell counts and biochemical markers that eliminate difficulty in interpretation by standardizing ELF. Animal were divided according to the etiology into bacterial, fungal, mixed lower respiratory tract infection and canine distemper infected dogs. Heamatolgical findings were non-specific and showed only the general health state of the animal except in canine distemper infected dogs which revealed specific lymphopenia and canine distemper inclusion bodies. Mixed and neutrophilic inflammation was the most common cytological finding in all groups. Microscopical examination of cytological preparations showed intra-cellular bacteria, blastomyces, pnemocystis carinii and toxoplasma. ALP and LDH activities were increased in diseased groups indicating cellular disruption with more sensitivity for ALP. Calcium and phosphorous showed variable usefulness. Total gelatinases were the common increasing element of matrix-metalloprotinases followed by MMP-2 in BALF of bacterial and mixed LRTI groups. The common isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Citrobacter spp., Alcaligen spp. as well as Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp. The results were supported by tables and illustrations.