Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Comparison of equine endometrial cytology samples collected with uterine swab, uterine brush, and low-volume lavage from healthy mares.
Abstract: There have been no studies evaluating and comparing the quality of equine endometrial cytology samples obtained via the 3 most common sampling techniques from healthy mares. Objective: The objective was to compare the quality and contents of equine endometrial samples obtained by 3 different sampling techniques: double-guarded uterine swab, double-guarded uterine brush, and low-volume lavage (LVL), all collected from clinically healthy mares. Methods: Samples were collected from 24 healthy mares in early estrus. In 19 mares, samples were obtained in a sequential manner, first with the swab, then with the brush, followed by LVL. Cytologic evaluation included estimates of quality, cellularity, and presence of inflammatory cells. The clinical pathologist performing the evaluations was blinded to the collection technique. The Friedman test with Dunn's multiple comparisons was used to compare rankings of quality, cellularity, and the presence or absence of inflammatory cells. Observed cytologic differences were described. Results: All techniques provided diagnostic samples, but swabs yielded the lowest quality sample. In our hands, the uterine brush provided the highest quality sample. Low-volume lavage samples contained higher numbers of neutrophils, although, in general, < 1 neutrophil/400× field is expected for all endometrial sampling techniques in healthy mares. Conclusions: All sampling techniques can be adequate methods for endometrial cytology, but the brush technique consistently provided the best sample. Sample contamination or poor slide quality can adversely affect interpretation. The most accurate criteria for determining what constitutes mild endometritis in mares have yet to be established.
© 2014 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
Publication Date: 2014-09-10 PubMed ID: 25208767DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12194Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
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.
The research article compares the effectiveness of three common methods for obtaining equine endometrial cytology samples from healthy mares. The study found that all techniques provided diagnostic samples but the brush technique consistently yielded the highest quality.
Objective
The primary goal was to assess the quality and content of endometrial samples collected by three different techniques:
- Double-guarded uterine swab
- Double-guarded uterine brush
- Low-volume lavage (LVL).
All these methods were applied to clinically healthy mares.
Methodology
Using a cohort of 24 healthy mares in early estrus, sample collections were performed. In 19 mares, the samples were collected sequentially starting with the swab, followed by the brush, and finally the LVL. Evaluation of cytology included estimates of quality, cellularity, and the presence of inflammatory cells. The pathologist conducting these evaluations was unaware of the collection method employed. The Friedman test with Dunn’s multiple comparisons was applied to compare rankings of quality, cellularity, and inflammatory cell presence or absence.
Results
It was observed that while all techniques provided diagnostic samples, swabs seemed to yield the lowest quality. The highest quality sample was produced using the uterine brush. The LVL samples consisted of a higher number of neutrophils, but healthy mares generally exhibited less than one neutrophil per 400x field across all sampling techniques.
Conclusion
The study concluded that all three sampling techniques are adequate for endometrial cytology with the brush method consistently providing the best quality. Poor slide quality or sample contamination could compromise the interpretation. Moreover, the study noted that concrete criteria defining mild endometritis in mares have yet to be established.
Cite This Article
APA
Bohn AA, Ferris RA, McCue PM.
(2014).
Comparison of equine endometrial cytology samples collected with uterine swab, uterine brush, and low-volume lavage from healthy mares.
Vet Clin Pathol, 43(4), 594-600.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12194 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cytological Techniques / veterinary
- Endometrium / cytology
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Pathology, Veterinary / methods
- Specimen Handling / veterinary
- Therapeutic Irrigation / veterinary
- Uterus / cytology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Scarlet D, Malama E, Fischer S, Knutti B, Bollwein H. Relationship between Clinical Uterine Findings, Therapy, and Fertility in the Mare. Vet Sci 2023 Mar 29;10(4).
- Köhne M, Hofbauer L, Böttcher D, Tönissen A, Hegger A, Görgens A, Ulrich R, Sieme H. Comparison of systemic trimethoprim-sulfadimethoxine treatment and intrauterine ozone application as possible therapies for bacterial endometritis in equine practice. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1102149.
- Garner C, Stephen C, Pant SD, Ghorashi SA. Comparison of PCR-HRM, colorimetric LAMP and culture based diagnostic assays in the detection of endometritis caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in mares. Vet Res Commun 2023 Jun;47(2):495-509.
- Ibrahim S, Hedia M, Taqi MO, Derbala MK, Mahmoud KGM, Ahmed Y, Sosa AS, Saber YHA, Hasanain MH, Nawito MF, Seidel GE. Extracellular vesicles in low volume uterine lavage and serum: novel and promising biomarker for endometritis in Arabian mares. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jan 18;18(1):42.
- Niikura T, Tsogtgerel M, Niikura C, Wada H, Kanzawa S, Fujiwara T, Nambo Y. Effect of prostaglandin F2(α) administration on uterine polymorphonuclear neutrophil counts in Japanese heavy draft horses. J Equine Sci 2021 Dec;32(4):117-124.
- Ibrahim S, Hedia M, Taqi MO, Derbala MK, Mahmoud KGM, Ahmed Y, Ismail S, El-Belely M. Alterations in the Expression Profile of Serum miR-155, miR-223, miR-17, miR-200a, miR-205, as well as Levels of Interleukin 6, and Prostaglandins during Endometritis in Arabian Mares. Vet Sci 2021 Jun 4;8(6).
- Quartuccio M, Cristarella S, Medica P, Fazio E, Mazzullo G, Rifici C, Liotta L, Satué K. Endometrial Cytology During the Different Phases of the Estrous Cycle in Jennies: New Evidences. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 19;10(6).
- Canisso IF, Segabinazzi LGTM, Fedorka CE. Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis in Mares - a Multifaceted Challenge: From Clinical Aspects to Immunopathogenesis and Pathobiology. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Feb 20;21(4).
- Alfatlawy HJ. Microbial profile of post-breeding endometritis in Arabian mares from the Al-Hira District, Iraq. Open Vet J 2025;15(8):3670-3676.
- Carvalho IB, Branco S, Laranjo M, Queiroga MC, Bettencourt E. Characteristics of the Mare-Uterine-Culture-Based Bacterial Composition Using Practical Clinical Evaluation Methods. Pathogens 2025 Apr 7;14(4).
- da Silva-Álvarez E, Gómez-Arrones V, Correa-Fiz F, Martín-Cano FE, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Carrasco JJ, Rey J, Aparicio IM, Peña FJ, Alonso JM, Ortega-Ferrusola C. Metagenomic and proteomic analyses reveal similar reproductive microbial profiles and shared functional pathways in uterine immune regulation in mares and jennies. PLoS One 2025;20(4):e0321389.
- Prete CD, Nocera FP, Piegari G, Palumbo V, Martino L, Cocchia N, Paciello O, Montano C, Pasolini MP. Use of cytobrush for bacteriological and cytological diagnosis of endometritis in mares. Vet World 2024 Feb;17(2):398-406.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
