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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Clinical and subclinical endometritis in the mare: both thre...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2009; 44 Suppl 3; 10-22; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01485.x

Clinical and subclinical endometritis in the mare: both threats to fertility.

Abstract: Endometritis, a major cause of mare infertility arising from failure to remove bacteria, spermatozoa and inflammatory exudate post-breeding, is often undiagnosed. Defects in genital anatomy, myometrial contractions, lymphatic drainage, mucociliary clearance, cervical function, plus vascular degeneration and inflamm-ageing underlie susceptibility to endometritis. Diagnosis is made through detecting uterine fluid, vaginitis, vaginal discharge, short inter-oestrous intervals, inflammatory uterine cytology and positive uterine culture. However, these signs may be absent in subclinical cases. Hypersecretion of an irritating, watery, neutrophilic exudate underlies classic, easy-to-detect streptococcal endometritis. In contrast, biofilm production, tenacious exudate and focal infection may characterize subclinical endometritis, commonly caused by Gram-negative organisms, fungi and staphylococci. Signs of subclinical endometritis include excessive oedema post-mating and a white line between endometrial folds on ultrasound. In addition, cultures of uterine biopsy tissue or of small volume uterine lavage are twice as sensitive as guarded swabs in detecting Gram-negative organisms, while uterine cytology is twice as sensitive as culture in detecting endometritis. Uterine biopsy may detect deep inflammatory and degenerative changes, such as disruption of the elastic fibres of uterine vessels (elastosis), while endoscopy reveals focal lesions invisible on ultrasound. Mares with subclinical endometritis require careful monitoring by ultrasound post-breeding. Treatments that may be added to traditional therapies, such as post-breeding uterine lavage, oxytocin and intrauterine antibiotics, include lavage 1-h before mating, carbetocin, cloprostenol, cervical dilators, systemic antibiotics, intrauterine chelators (EDTA-Tris), mucolytics (DMSO, kerosene, N-acetylcysteine), corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone) and immunomodulators (cell wall extracts of Mycobacterium phlei and Propionibacterium acnes).
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Publication Date: 2009-08-13 PubMed ID: 19660076DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01485.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article focuses on endometritis in mares, both in its clinical and subclinical forms, which pose a significant threat to their fertility, often caused by inadequate bodily removal of bacteria, spermatozoa, and inflammatory exudate after breeding.

Understanding Endometritis

  • Endometritis is a primary culprit behind infertility in mares and is triggered by an inability to effectively eliminate bacteria, spermatozoa, and inflammatory fluids post-breeding.
  • The chances of developing endometritis increase due to anomalies in the female genital structure, myometrial contractions, lymphatic drainage, mucociliary clearance, cervical function, and vascular degeneration.

Diagnosis of Endometritis

  • Endometritis diagnosis involves checking for signs such as uterine fluid, vaginitis, vaginal discharge, short inter-oestrous intervals, inflamed uterine cytology, and positive uterine culture.
  • In some cases, especially subclinical endometritis, these symptoms might be absent, making detection difficult.

Cause and Effects of Endometritis

  • Endometritis can be divided into two types, one characterized by excessive secretion of a watery, neutrophilic exudate caused by streptococci infection, while the other is subclinical endometritis, which is often related to Gram-negative organisms, fungi, and staphylococci.
  • Subclinical endometritis symptoms include excessive post-mating edema and a distinctive white line between endometrial folds visible on an ultrasound.

Detection and Treatment of Endometritis

  • Considering diagnosis, uterine biopsy tissue cultures or small volume uterine lavage prove to be twice as effective as guarded swabs in detecting Gram-negative organisms.
  • Also, uterine cytology is twice as sensitive as culture methods in revealing presence of endometritis.
  • Methods such as uterine biopsy, endoscopy, and ultrasound can be employed for a more detailed examination and diagnosis of the condition.
  • Treatment options range from traditional therapies like post-breeding uterine lavage, oxytocin, and intrauterine antibiotics to other methods like lavage 1-h before mating, carbetocin, cloprostenol, cervical dilators, systemic antibiotics, intrauterine chelators (EDTA-Tris), mucolytics (DMSO, kerosene, N-acetylcysteine), corticosteroids (prednisolone, dexamethasone) and immunomodulators (cell wall extracts of Mycobacterium phlei and Propionibacterium acnes).

Cite This Article

APA
LeBlanc MM, Causey RC. (2009). Clinical and subclinical endometritis in the mare: both threats to fertility. Reprod Domest Anim, 44 Suppl 3, 10-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01485.x

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 44 Suppl 3
Pages: 10-22

Researcher Affiliations

LeBlanc, M M
  • Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY 40580, USA. leblancdvm@bellsouth.net
Causey, R C

    MeSH Terms

    • Aging
    • Animals
    • Biopsy / veterinary
    • Breeding
    • Cervix Uteri / physiopathology
    • Cilia / physiology
    • Endometritis / complications
    • Endometritis / therapy
    • Endometritis / veterinary
    • Endometrium / blood supply
    • Endometrium / pathology
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
    • Horse Diseases / therapy
    • Horses
    • Hysteroscopy / veterinary
    • Infertility, Female / etiology
    • Infertility, Female / veterinary
    • Ultrasonography / veterinary
    • Uterus / microbiology
    • Uterus / physiopathology
    • Uterus / ultrastructure

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    This article has been cited 46 times.
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