Atypical cilia in the tracheal epithelium of healthy water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Samples of tracheal mucosa were obtained from 10 healthy adult water buffaloes and 50000 cilia were examined ultrastructurally. Ciliary abnormalities were found in all 10 subjects. Atypical cilia occurred as compound cilia (up to 1.5%), intracytoplasmic cilia (0.07%) and swollen cilia (0.05%). The microtubular pattern was determined in 5000 cross-sectioned cilia, with about 7% showing axonemal abnormalities in which peripheral defects prevailed. Some electron-dense plugs appeared inside the cylinder lumen of 2.5% of basal bodies. Freeze-fracture studies revealed a ciliary necklace composed of up to eight rows of intramembranous particles. This fine detail appeared to differ from that of other small and large ruminants. (C) 1999 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.