Infertility in horses refers to the inability of a mare or stallion to reproduce successfully. This condition can arise from a variety of factors, including anatomical, physiological, genetic, or environmental influences. In mares, infertility may be linked to issues such as ovarian dysfunction, uterine infections, or hormonal imbalances. Stallions may experience infertility due to low sperm quality, testicular abnormalities, or reproductive tract infections. Diagnosing infertility involves a combination of physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging techniques to identify underlying causes. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the causes, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for infertility in equine populations.
Turner JW, Kirkpatrick JF.This field study of feral stallions in Montana and Idaho examines and correlates the seasonal pattern of plasma androgens and specific sociosexual behaviour and reports the effect of a long-acting androgenic steroid on this behaviour and on fertility. Plasma testosterone was measured by competitive protein binding assay in samples obtained by jugular venepuncture from captured animals. In samples taken from 34 sexually mature stallions in 6 different months during the year, a definite seasonal pattern in testosterone was present, with a peak in May (3.04 +/- 0.63 ng/ml) and a nadir in December...
Leishman D, Miller RB, Doig PA.The density of uterine glands, height of surface epithelium, numbers of hemosiderin laden macrophages, inflammatory cells and layers of periglandular fibrosis were evaluated in uterine biopsies from 40 mares. These features were found to be highly variable in normal equine endometrium. Minor pathological changes appeared to be masked by this normal variability. Atrophy of uterine glands was recognized in mares which had been barren for more than three years. No significant differences were found between barren and normal mares in the height of epithelium, number of hemosiderin laden macrophage...
Mitchell G, Liu IK, Perryman LE, Stabenfeldt GH, Hughes JP.Immunoglobulin concentrations were compared in serum and in saline uterine washings from 10 normal mares and 7 subfertile mares with chronic endometrial pathology. Samples were collected in dioestrus and in oestrus. For each immunoglobulin class (IgA, IgG, IgG(T), IgM) the results were expressed as a percentage of total immunoglobulin present in uterine washings or serum. Comparison was also made between changes in immunoglobulin concentrations between dioestrous and oestrous uterine samples, and uterine immunoglobulin concentrations between groups of mares. There was significantly more IgA in...
Shivers CA, Liu IK.Sera and follicular fluid from mares previously determined as having antibodies to the zona pellucida were exposed to porcine ovarian oocytes before insemination with boar spermatozoa in vitro. There was a dramatic decline in the number of spermatozoa bound to zonae compared to treatments with sera and follicular fluid from mares negative for zona antibodies. These data suggest that antibodies reactive with the zona pellucida may be responsible for reduced or even complete infertility in some mares. In a group of 50 randomly selected mares tested for antizona antibodies, 2 pregnant mares were ...
Blue MG.This study provides accumulated data to assist the definition of karyotypes from normal and infertile horses. The normal karyotype of the horse (2n = 64) was characterized following Giemsa staining and C- banding, and 23% aneuploidy was found among chromosome counts of cells prepared from 44 clinically normal horses and 24 equine embryos. These expected variations in chromosome counts are especially important in the evaluation of potential mosaicism. Centromere staining was shown to be a valuable aid for the identification of specific chromosomes, in particular the sex chromosomes. Sex chromat...
Doig PA, McKnight JD, Miller RB.The results of a study on endometrial biopsies obtained from 700 infertile mares are reported. Infiltrative endometritis was present in 51% consisting of a combination of an acute and chronic cellular response in 6%, mild chronic infiltrations in 35% and moderate to severe chronic infiltrations in 10%. Demonstrable endometrial fibrosis was found in 88% of the mares with the majority having mild (51%) or moderate (35%) changes. The age of the mares and the average number of years barren gradually increased with the severity of endometrial fibrosis, as did the combined incidence of fetal loss (e...
Kirchhoff H, Heitmann J, Bisping W.Mycoplasmas were isolated from 11 (=#6,8%) of 161 cervix swabs from infertile mares. A total of 17 strains was isolated and characterized by indirect immunofluorescent test and metabolic inhibition test as Mycoplasma equigenitalium (11 strains), Mycoplasma subdolum (2 strains), Acholeplasma laidlawii (3 strains) and Acholeplasma equifetale (1 strain). In addition cervix swabs of the mares were investigated for bacteria. There was no specific correlation between presence of mycoplasmas and bacteria (table 1). In clinical investigations 5 of the 11 mares which harboured mycoplasmas showed a pneu...
El Sanousi SM, El Tayeb Amna B, Shadad EY.Uterine washes collected from 200 barren mares were examined at the Khartoum veterinary clinic during the period May 1977 to May 1978. A variety of bacteria was isolated from 77 per cent of the mares investigated. Thirty mares were treated by parenteral injection and intrauterine infusion of the appropriate antibiotics. Twenty-one of these mares conceived, of which 17 delivered normal foals and 4 had early embryonic deaths.
Hughes JP.Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) is a highly contagious venereal disease of horses caused by a fastidious, Gram-negative coccobacillus which grows best on chocolate agar under microaerophilic conditions (5-10% CO2). Clinically, the disease is characterized by a copious watery-to-mucopurulent, vaginal discharge two to ten days after breeding by an infected stallion (11, 13). Shortened estrous cycle lengths are common and may be the only indication of endometritis in some instances (7). Inapparent carriers of the disease in both the mare and stallion make control of the disease more difficult. O...
Hemeida NA, Sack WO, McEntee K.Dutculi efferentes were studied by microdissection and histologic methods in 2 boar, 6 goat, 5 ram, 25 bull, and 19 stallion epididymides. On the basis of the present findings and the data of others and relating them to the total number of specimens examined in each species, an estimate (narrow range) was made of the minimal-maximal numbers of efferent ductules as follows: dog 13 to 15; cat 14 to 17; boar 14 to 16; goat 18 to 19; ram 17 to 20; bull 13 to 16; and stallion 14 to 17. The histologic appearance of the efferent ductules of the bull, including measurements of their diameter, lumen, a...
Webster WR.A controlled on-farm trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a commercial gonadotrophin hormone mixture at overcoming a seasonal decrease in fertility in pigs in a sub-tropical environment (summer infertility). The average weaning to oestrus interval of the untreated sows was more than double that of the treated sows and this difference was highly significant. However, fewer of the treated sows farrowed and they produced smaller litters. The improvement in fertility in the treated group achieved by reducing the weaning to oestrus interval was more than cancelled out by an overall ...
Hughes JP, Trommershausen-Smith A.Reproductive failure was studied in 12 phenotypically normal mares (9 Arabian, 3 Quarter horses, 1 Appaloosa and 1 pony). Karyotyping was performed using lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient procedures, followed by standard culture methods for karyotyping. Nine mares had karyotypes of 63,XO; 1 had 63,XO/64,XX; 1 had 63,XO/64,XY and 1 had 64,XY. All mares had small, firm ovaries that when removed and examined from 4 mares, lacked germ cells and consisted of undifferentiated ovarian stroma.
Cooper MJ.Fluprostenol (ICI 81,008) is a 16-aryloxyprostaglandin, structurally related to PGF2alpha. It is a highly potent luteolytic agent, being effective in thoroughbred mares at a single intramuscular dose of 250 mug and having a wide margin of safety in this species. A total of 941 mares have been treated with fluprostenol in an international trial, for various forms of infertility associated with abnormal persistence of luteal function. These mares were selected for treatment on the basis of clinical examination and 760 (approximately 80 per cent) responded fluprostenol by showing oestrus within s...
Hughes JP, Benirschke K, Kennedy PC, Trommershausen-Smith A.Five phenotypically normal but infertile mares were studied; four had karyotypes of 63XO, and one was a 25,64XX/13,63XO mosaic. The mares exhibited small uteri and has small ovaries that lacked germ cells and consisted primarily of undifferentiated ovarian stroma. These cases demonstrate that chromosome analysis is an important technique for the diagnosis of some forms of equine infertility.
Laing JA, Leech FB.In a group of 852 Thoroughbred mares, 69-7% had foals which survived beyond 6 weeks, 7-1% had dead, premature or full-term foals and 1-1% had foals which died within 6 weeks after birth. Possible factors which may have influenced these data are mentioned.
Short RV.The infertility of the mule has proved a continuing challenge to scientific thought. Since the chromosomal differences between the two parental species are so great as to render normal meiosis impossible, it is postulated that all mules and hinnies are sterile. The problem now is to explain how mules and hinnies can occasionally produce spermatozoa or ova. The appearance of the mule was sufficient to persuade the ancients that both parents, not just the male, must contribute to the make-up of the offspring. The mule has also taught us that, when the number of oocytes in the ovary is reduced, t...
McFeely RA.The karyotype of the horse consists of 64 chromosomes; 18 pairs have a terminal centromere and 13 pairs a non-terminal centromere. Identification of individual chromosomes is enhanced by the use of band-staining techniques which allow recognition of minor structural rearrangements of chromatin material. Seven previously reported cases of male pseudohermaphroditism with chromosome studies are reviewed. Three were genetic females, one was basically an XX/XY chimaera, one was an XX/XXY chimaera, and one was an XXXY. Also reviewed is an infertile mare with 63 chromosomes and no distinguishable sex...
Chandley AC, Fletcher J, Rossdale PD, Peace CK, Ricketts SW, McEnery RJ, Thorne JP, Short RV, Allen WR.Chromosomal abnormalities have been detected in seven mares isolated by their poor reproductive performance. All had small or rudimentary gonads and absent or irregular oestrous cycles. Two mares had an XO genotype, one was a 65,XXX female and another a 64,XY sex-reversed female. Two other mares were sex chromosome mosaics of the 63,X/64,XX type. The seventh mare showed a normal female karyotype but a small extra autosomal fragment was found in a few cells.
Spincemaille J, Coryn M, Vandekerckhove D, Vandeplassche M.Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), administered by untrauterine infusion and intramuscular injection, was used to induce oestrus and ovulation in non-cyclic mares. A satisfactory response rate (80% or more) was obtained and the dose (2-5--7-5 mg) and the time taken for ovulation to occur (up to 9 days) was the same irrespective of the route of administration. Only about one-half of the mares conceived to mating at the induced oestrus but the low conception rate could be attributed to the infertile condition of the mares. Plasma progesterone remained at basal levels after PGF2alpha and oestroge...
Voss JL, Pickett BW.Haemospermia caused infertility in the stallion and frequently results from a urethritis in the area of the ejaculatory ducts. Urethroscopic examination, urethrography, bacterial and viral cultures, biopsy, surgery of the urethra and histocytological examination should be used for diagnosis and it is essential that the exact cause and location of the haemorrhage be known before treatment is initiated. Optimal treatment includes sexual rest and appropriate antibiotics used systemically in conjunction with local medication of the urethra. Cauterization of the urethra with silver nitrate solution...
Varadin M.Infertility, resulting from failure to conceive during the preceding breeding season, was caused by various forms of endometritis in forty-four mares of Highland and Arabian breeds in Yugoslavia. Chronic mucopurulent and latent catarrhal endometritis occurred most frequently. Douching of the uterus on alternate days for 9 days with warm and cold sterile salt solutions (ranging from 7% to 1% w/v) in the early autumn resulted in conception in 47-7% of mares at an average of 15-2 days after the onset of treatment, and another 36-7% becoming pregnant in the following spring. Mating at the wrong st...
Cooper MJ.Fluprostenol (ICI 81,008) is a 16-aryloxyprostaglandin, structurally related to PGF2alpha. It is a highly potent luteolytic agent, being effective in thoroughbred mares at a single intramuscular dose of 250 mug and having a wide margin of safety in this species. A total of 941 mares have been treated with fluprostenol in an international trial, for various forms of infertility associated with abnormal persistence of luteal function. These mares were selected for treatment on the basis of clinical examination and 760 (approximately 80 per cent) responded fluprostenol by showing oestrus within s...
Bechert U, Rohde J, Freer H, Wagner B.SpayVac is an immunocontraceptive vaccine based on porcine zona pellucida (pZP) antigens and uses a patented liposome formulation (VacciMax or DepoVax). It has delivered single-dose, long-lasting (4-10 years) immunocontraception in several species. Previous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between levels of pZP antibodies produced and contraceptive effect; however, individual mares that were consistently infertile did not necessarily have the highest antibody titers. The objective of this study was to identify potential differences in specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype res...
Whitcomb RW, Schneyer AL, Roser JF, Hughes JP.Using a LH radioligand receptor assay (RRA) previously validated for use in serum and an equine monoclonal RIA, we have distinguished a subset of subfertile stallions with an elevated RRA/RIA ratio. After purification of the active moiety by anion exchange chromatography and immunoprecipitation with the equine LH (eLH) monoclonal antibody, RRA activity remained in the supernatant. This activity was also recognized by a polyclonal LH antibody (GDN 15) with wide cross-species recognition. This active fraction was further purified by gel filtration chromatography and shown to displace labeled eLH...
Günay Uçmak Z, Kurban I, Uçmak M.Endometritis is a major cause of infertility in mares. The aim of this study is to evaluate the preovulatory follicle (POF) vascularization (A mix, A red, A blue), POF diameter, POF wall thickness, and uterine diameters in mares with or without endometritis. Ten healthy mares and 10 mares with endometritis diagnosed by the combination of transrectal palpation, ultrasonographic examination, and cytology brush were enrolled in the study. Data of the groups obtained at 2 days before the ovulation (day -2) were compared with Student's t-test. Correlations of the parameters were determined by the ...
McKinnon AO, Lacham-Kaplan O, Trounson AO.The use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for in vitro fertilization of equine oocytes and the developmental potential of these oocytes after transfer to the Fallopian tubes of synchronized mares were examined. Oocytes were aspirated from mature follicles 39 h after injection of a GnRH analogue and transported 190 km at 39 degrees C. Semen from a fertile and an infertile stallion was frozen and prepared for injection. Successfully injected oocytes were transferred surgically into the ampulla of the Fallopian tube either: (i) 4-8 h after semen injection; or (ii) after 24-48 h culture b...
Spincemaille J, Coryn M, Vandekerckhove D, Vandeplassche M.Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha), administered by untrauterine infusion and intramuscular injection, was used to induce oestrus and ovulation in non-cyclic mares. A satisfactory response rate (80% or more) was obtained and the dose (2-5--7-5 mg) and the time taken for ovulation to occur (up to 9 days) was the same irrespective of the route of administration. Only about one-half of the mares conceived to mating at the induced oestrus but the low conception rate could be attributed to the infertile condition of the mares. Plasma progesterone remained at basal levels after PGF2alpha and oestroge...
Voss JL, Pickett BW.Haemospermia caused infertility in the stallion and frequently results from a urethritis in the area of the ejaculatory ducts. Urethroscopic examination, urethrography, bacterial and viral cultures, biopsy, surgery of the urethra and histocytological examination should be used for diagnosis and it is essential that the exact cause and location of the haemorrhage be known before treatment is initiated. Optimal treatment includes sexual rest and appropriate antibiotics used systemically in conjunction with local medication of the urethra. Cauterization of the urethra with silver nitrate solution...
LeBlanc M, Ward L, Tran T, Widders P.A direct ELISA was used to measure immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes G, Gt, A, and M recognizing Streptococcus zooepidemicus epitopes in uterine lavage fluids collected during the early post ovulatory period. A S. zooepidemicus isolate, used as the plate antigen in this assay, was inoculated into the uteri of 8 mares (3 resistant and 5 susceptible to endometritis) at oestrus prior to ovulation during Oestrous Cycles 1, 3 and 5. Resistant mares aged 2-5 years were nulliparous, with clinically normal reproductive tracts as determined by physical examination, bacteriological culture of the uterus, and...
Motton DD, Roser JF.Recent evidence in our laboratory suggests that the cause of idiopathic subfertility/infertility in breeding stallions may originate in the testes at the luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor or postreceptor level. The objective of this research was to determine if LH receptor binding activity is altered in subfertile and infertile stallions. Six fertile, three subfertile, and three infertile stallions, ages 11-23 years, were classified according to normal semen parameters and pregnancy rates and then castrated in the breeding season. Blood was collected prior to castration, and plasma was stored ...
Blue MG.This study provides accumulated data to assist the definition of karyotypes from normal and infertile horses. The normal karyotype of the horse (2n = 64) was characterized following Giemsa staining and C- banding, and 23% aneuploidy was found among chromosome counts of cells prepared from 44 clinically normal horses and 24 equine embryos. These expected variations in chromosome counts are especially important in the evaluation of potential mosaicism. Centromere staining was shown to be a valuable aid for the identification of specific chromosomes, in particular the sex chromosomes. Sex chromat...
Poyato-Bonilla J, Anaya-Calvo G, Molina A, Valera M, Moreno-Millán M, Dorado J, Demyda-Peyrás S.Chromosomal abnormalities are a major cause of infertility and reproductive problems in equids. Nowadays, their detection is rising due to the use of new diagnostic tools based on molecular markers instead of karyotyping. Reports of this kind of genetic aberrations in domestic donkeys (Equus asinus) are extremely scarce, despite their importance in human activities. In the present study, we analysed the implementation of a short-tandem-repeat (STR)-based molecular method initially developed for horses, as a diagnostic tool to detect chromosomal abnormalities in donkeys. The frequency of five X...
Fumuso E, Checura C, Losinno L, Soto P, Sánchez S.Endometritis in mares is a common cause of infertility. Conventional treatments of the disease have mostly been unsuccessful, so new therapeutic alternatives need to be investigated. This study evaluated the uterine disposition and plasma pharmacokinetic behaviour of a commercial formulation of enrofloxacin (EFX) given by the intrauterine (i.u.) route (2.5 mg/kg) in healthy mares. In order to evaluate the uterine inflammatory response, an initial histopathological study assessing polymorphonuclear cell infiltration was carried out in 20 mares over a 14-day period after treatment. In a second s...
Silva GF, Cunha R, Carvalho F, Ribeiro M, Rocha A, Amorim I, Guimarães T.A 30-year-old Lusitano stallion presented with an enlarged right epididymis. The ultrasound scan revealed a cyst-like formation and the histopathological examination was compatible with epididymal cyst located at the body/tail transition, epididymal spermatocele and sperm granuloma and epididymitis. However, these conditions did not seem to affect the animal's reproductive performance, nor did the semen parameters analyzed over the 8 years after the diagnosis show significant changes. Nevertheless, since the ejaculate contains mostly sperm cells from the tail of the epididymis, where fertile s...
Ferrer MS, Miller LMJ.Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) have been associated with infertility in stallions. The objectives of this study were to investigate the frequency of ASA-positive semen samples in satisfactory and non-satisfactory breeder stallions, the association between ASA binding and semen quality, and factors that may affect the diagnosis. Breeding soundness examinations were performed in 21 stallions and the percentage of IgG- and IgA-bound spermatozoa was evaluated using flow cytometry. Median IgG and IgA binding did not differ between the first and second ejaculates. The percentage of IgA-bound spermatozo...
Heath E, Aire T, Fujiwara K.A microtubular mass (MM) defect was found in the spermatozoa of 7 Standardbred stallions; 3 stallions were sons of the same sire. Two of these 3 stallions and 2 other stallions (for a total of 4 out of the 7 stallions) were considered subfertile when the defect was first observed. Fertility improved with time, either during the first breeding season or when a given stallion was used less frequently; however, the MM defect persisted, consisting of tortuous arrays of small abnormal microtubules visible only by transmission electron microscopy. The MM probably contained the protein tubulin as ind...
Verberckmoes S, Van Soom A, de Kruif A.Artificial insemination (AI) is the oldest and currently most common technique in the assisted reproduction of animals and humans. The introduction of AI in farm animals was forced by sanitary reasons and the first large-scale applications with a commercial goal were performed in cattle in the late 1930s of last century. After the Second World War, cryopreservation of semen facilitated distribution and AI was mainly performed for economic reasons, especially in dairy cattle industry. In humans however, AI was initially performed in cases of physiological and psychological sexual dysfunction, b...
Weitkamp LR, Kenney RM, Bailey E, MacCluer JW, Brown JS, Blanchard TL, Sertich PL, Love CC, Hunt PR.Histological features of the endometrium, as assessed in biopsy samples, were related to Standardbred mare genotypes for transferrin, esterase (as a control) and equine leucocyte antigens (ELA). Pathological changes were found more frequently in each successively older age group of mares. Among mares aged 6-19 years, there were significant pathologic changes on first examination following an infertile breeding season for 46 of 90 (51%) of transferrin homozygotes and 50 of 146 (34%) of transferrin heterozygotes. The difference between the two groups was significant for the total data (chi 1(2) ...
de la Concha-Bermejillo A, Kennedy PC.A retrospective analysis was made of 79 endometrial biopsy specimens obtained from mares with histories of infertility. The specimens were classified into 3 standard prognostic categories, according to the severity of the histologic changes. The 36 mares that had few endometrial lesions (category I) had a foaling rate of 78%. The 29 mares that had more severe endometrial changes (category II) had a foaling rate of 55%. The 14 mares with the most severe endometrial lesions (category III) had a foaling rate of 35%. The pregnancy losses for each category were 9.7%, 23.8%, and 44.4%, respectively....
Tiago G, Júlio C, António R.Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause venereal disease and infertility in horses. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa - carrier stallion, often unresponsive to artificial vagina collection, was used to naturally breed mares. Semen collected from the same stallion was also used to perform artificial inseminations. Pregnancy rates, embryo quality and incidence of uterine infection were compared between inseminated or naturally-bred mares. Methods: P. aeruginosa was isolated from swabbing of the penis, prepuce and distal urethra of the stallion. Before being bred or inseminated, clitoral/vestibular samples were ...
Power MM.Two unrelated chromosome abnormalities were found in equine half sibs. The proposita, Case 1, which was short in stature and infertile, had a de novo unbalanced X;15 translocation involving loss of Xp. Replication studies indicated that the translocated X was preferentially late replicating and that this late replication spread variably into the autosomal segment. Case 2, a half brother of the proposita, was short in stature, had cryptorchidism, and was trisomic for chromosome 28. Cytogenetic analysis of the dam, the sire of Case 1, and two other phenotypically normal half sibs revealed normal...
Katz JB, Evans LE, Hutto DL, Schroeder-Tucker LC, Carew AM, Donahue JM, Hirsh DC.To characterize clinical, serologic, bacteriologic, cytologic, and pathologic endometrial responses of mares to 2 donkey-origin atypical bacterial isolates resembling Taylorella equigenitalis. Methods: Prospective in vivo study. Methods: 10 healthy mares. Methods: Mares in estrus (2/group) were inoculated by intrauterine infusion with 2 isolates of classic T equigenitalis or 2 isolates of atypical Taylorella sp or were sham-inoculated. Bacteriologic, serologic, clinical, uterine, cytologic, and pathologic endometrial responses were assessed 4, 11, 21, 35, and 63 days after inoculation and on d...
Bracher V, Mathias S, Allen WR.Placentation between 80 and 220 days of gestation was studied by measurement of fetal dimensions and gross, light and transmission and scanning electron microscopic examinations of the allantochorion and endometrium from 4 fertile mares with no, or very mild, endometrial histopathology and 6 subfertile Thoroughbred mares suffering varying degrees of age-related chronic degenerative endometritis (endometrosis). Spontaneously occurring twin gestation was observed in 3 animals. Several of the subfertile mares had endometrial cysts which showed 2 distinct features during pregnancy: those located n...
Brinsko SP.Genital neoplasms in the male horse are relatively uncommon. Squamous cell carcinomas and squamous papillomas are the most commonly diagnosed neoplasms of the penis and prepuce. Geldings appear to be overrepresented for these types of neoplasms, and accumulation of smegma may be a contributing factor. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for salvaging these organs before lesions become excessively large and invasive or are allowed to metastasize. Newer treatment modalities such as 5-fluorouracil appear to be promising alternatives to surgical excision. Although generally considered to b...
Benammar A, Derisoud E, Vialard F, Palmer E, Ayoubi JM, Poulain M, Chavatte-Palmer P.Although there are large differences between horses and humans for reproductive anatomy, follicular dynamics, mono-ovulation, and embryo development kinetics until the blastocyst stage are similar. In contrast to humans, however, horses are seasonal animals and do not have a menstrual cycle. Moreover, horse implantation takes place 30 days later than in humans. In terms of artificial reproduction techniques (ART), oocytes are generally matured in vitro in horses because ovarian stimulation remains inefficient. This allows the collection of oocytes without hormonal treatments. In humans, in viv...
Dorado J, Anaya G, Bugno-Poniewierska M, Molina A, Mendez-Sanchez A, Ortiz I, Moreno-Millán M, Hidalgo M, Peral García P, Demyda-Peyrás S.Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the main causes of genetic infertility in horses. Currently, their detection rate is rising due to the use of new diagnostic tools employing molecular markers linked to the sex chromosome pair. Despite genetic similarities, there are no previous reports of sterility associated with chromosomal abnormalities in the domestic donkey (Equus asinus). Hereby, we determined the presence of a chromosomal mosaicism in a female donkey with reproductive problems using molecular methodologies developed for horses. A two-and-a-half-year-old jenny characterized by morpho...
Sikora M, Król J, Nowak M, Stefaniak T, Aubertsson G, Kozdrowski R.Endometritis is a common problem in a broodmare practice, often leading to infertility. The diagnosis is based on several methods such as cytology, bacteriology and histopathology; however the outcome of these methods may be inconclusive even when used together. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the usefulness of acute phase proteins as an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares and (2) to evaluate the association between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and inflammation of the uterus. Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic ma...
Teixeira-Soares CM, Viana AGA, Ribeiro IM, Silva KDP, Sancler-Silva YFR, Machado-Neves M.Endometritis is a relevant cause of subfertility in mares. However, the accurate diagnosis, essential for effective treatment, can be difficult due to the variability of results and interpretations resulting from different examination methods and sample collection techniques. The present work compared gynecological evaluation methods and sample collection techniques to diagnose endometritis in subfertile mares. Forty animals with a history of subfertility were selected for gynecological evaluation using clinical methodologies, such as perineal conformation, transrectal palpation and ultrasonog...
Wehrenberg WB, Fowler S, Kurhajec J, Hutz RJ.Forty-four female ranch mink, maintained out-of-doors under standard conditions, were exposed to natural photoperiod supplemented with a period of artificial light from approximately 2300 hr to 0300 hr from early January to mid February. Breeding was initiated on March 1. After repeated attempts to breed the animals, it was determined that the likelihood of their breeding was very low, presumably due to the artificial and asynchronous long-day photoperiod. In an attempt to induce breeding, the mink were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: saline, 25 International Units (IU) PMSG...
Ruiz AJ, Castaneda C, Raudsepp T, Tibary A.This case report describes spermatogenic arrest and azoospermia in a stallion with a unique Y chromosome-autosome translocation. Clinical diagnosis of azoospermia was based on history of infertility and evaluation of ejaculates collected for artificial insemination. Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation of the external and internal genitalia did not reveal any abnormalities except for smaller than normal testicular size. Azoospermia of testicular origin was confirmed by determining alkaline phosphatase concentration in semen. Histological evaluation of testicular tissue after castration con...
Lyle SK, Ferrer MS.The typical dose for insemination into the uterine body of the mare is > 300 x 10(6) progressively motile spermatozoa (PMS) and an insemination dose of > 200 x 10(6) PMS is recommended for frozen-thawed semen. Low-dose insemination techniques allow for a drastic reduction in the numbers of spermatozoa required to achieve pregnancy. Acceptable pregnancy rates can be achieved with doses ranging from 1 to 25 x 10(6) PMS in volumes ranging from 20 to 1000 microL. Two techniques have been described: hysteroscopic insemination and transrectally guided deep horn insemination using a pipette. Similar ...
