Correction: Comparison of the broncoalveolar lavage fluid proteomics between foals and adult horses.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Broncoalveolar Lavage Fluid Proteomics in Foals versus Adult Horses Respiratory health in young horses differs fundamentally from that of mature animals, yet the underlying immunological mechanisms remain poorly characterised. Rivolta and colleagues employed proteomics analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid to identify protein expression differences between foals and adult horses, enabling a comprehensive comparison of lower airway biochemistry across age groups. The proteomic profiling revealed distinct protein signatures reflective of developmental and immunological maturation, with specific proteins showing age-dependent patterns that likely reflect the transition from foal-specific immune responses to adult respiratory immunity. These findings carry significant implications for practitioners managing respiratory conditions in young stock, as they suggest that therapeutic approaches targeting specific proteins or inflammatory markers may require age-appropriate modification, and that baseline BAL fluid composition varies considerably between foals and adults—a distinction essential for accurate clinical interpretation of BAL results in diagnostic contexts. Understanding these developmental differences provides a foundation for more targeted management of conditions like equine asthma, septic arthritis-related respiratory complications, and infectious airway disease, where age-appropriate interventions could optimise outcomes in juvenile populations.

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Key Findings

• •This is a correction notice to a previously published proteomics study comparing broncoalveolar lavage fluid between foals and adult horses