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Home / Equine Research Bank / Theriogenology / Comparison of three diagnostic methods to identify subclinic...
Theriogenology2011; 75(7); 1311-1318; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.12.002

Comparison of three diagnostic methods to identify subclinical endometritis in mares.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of a uterine swab (US), a cytological brush (CB) and an endometrial biopsy (EB) to detect subclinical endometritis in mares. Cytological and bacteriological results of all three techniques were related to histological occurrence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the stratum compactum, commonly known as 'best standard'; to diagnose endometritis. Samples were taken from 55 mares of different breeds without clinical signs of endometritis. Samples for US, CB and EB were collected, smeared on a microscopic slide and cultured for bacterial growth. Endometrial biopsy samples were additionally stored in 4% formaldehyde for histological analysis. Bacteriological cultures and cytological samples of all techniques were classified as negative (no uterine pathogens in monoculture; 90% of the grown colonies; > 2% PMNs) for endometritis. Uterine pathogens were diagnosed in 20.0% of the mares. Isolation of pathogens was not associated with positive cytological findings (r = -0.23; P = 0.87). None of the six mares with an Escherichia coli infection (10.9%) showed a positive cytological result. In contrast, two of five mares infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus had a positive cytological result. Histologically, the presence of PMNs in the stratum compactum was regarded as positive for endometritis when the mare was in diestrus at time of sampling. Compared to the 'best standard', sensitivity for cytology of CB, US and EB was 0.17, 0.00 and 0.25, respectively. Specificity for cytology of CB, US and EB was 0.83, 0.93 and 0.85, respectively. Sensitivity of uterine culture was 0.25, 0.33 and 0.25 for CB, US and EB, respectively. Specificity for culture of CB, US and EB was 0.80, 0.83 and 0.95, respectively. In conclusion, cytological or bacteriological examinations alone provide a high incidence of false negative results. Sensitivity of cytology combined with bacteriology of CB was 0.42. A combination of a bacteriological and a cytological examination of a CB sample improved the diagnostic performance in subfertile mares. Based on these results, we can recommend the CB to improve the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in the mare compared to the US alone as currently used routine method.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-01-19 PubMed ID: 21251703DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.12.002Google 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.

The study compares the precision of three techniques, specifically uterine swabs (US), cytological brushes (CB), and endometrial biopsies (EB), to identify subclinical endometritis – an inflammation of the uterine lining – in mares (female horses). It concludes that a combined use of a bacterial and a cytbrush examination helps improve the diagnostic accuracy in detecting subclinical endometritis in mares versus the traditional method of solely utilizing a uterine swab.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers sampled 55 mares of different breeds that didn’t show any clinical signs of endometritis.
  • They collected samples for uterine swabs (US), cytological brushes (CB), and endometrial biopsies (EB), smeared it on a microscopic slide, and cultured it to check for bacterial growth.
  • The endometrial biopsy samples were stored in 4% formaldehyde for further histological analysis.
  • The bacteriological cultures and cytological samples using all the techniques were segregated as negative or positive for endometritis, based on whether they had uterine pathogens or less than 2% polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), or more than 90% of uterine pathogens or over 2% PMNs present.
  • In this study, the presence of PMNs in the stratum compactum during diestrus, or the non-fertile phase of mares was regarded as a positive endometritis.

Results and Observations

  • Uterine pathogens were detected in 20% of the mares. The presence of such pathogens was not linked with positive cytological findings and was statistically insignificant.
  • Among the mares with Escherichia coli (E.coli) infection, none showed a positive cytological result, whereas 2 of the mares infected with Streptococcus zooepidemicus revealed positive cytology.
  • Compared to the ‘best standard’, sensitivity for cytology was lowest for US and highest for EB, while specificity was highest for US and similar for CB and EB.
  • For uterine culture, sensitivity was highest for US and the same for both CB and EB, whereas specificity was highest for EB and nearly the same for the rest.

Conclusion

  • The report concludes that using cytological or bacteriological examinations individually can lead to a higher rate of false negative results and thus are inefficient in diagnosing subclinical endometritis.
  • However, the sensitivity improves when a cytology is combined with bacteriology, specifically when collected through a cytBrush. This enhances the overall diagnostic potentiality in subfertile mares.
  • Based on these findings, the research recommends the use of cytological brushes in conjunction with bacteria to enhance the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares, over the routinely used uterine swab method.

Cite This Article

APA
Overbeck W, Witte TS, Heuwieser W. (2011). Comparison of three diagnostic methods to identify subclinical endometritis in mares. Theriogenology, 75(7), 1311-1318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.12.002

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 1879-3231
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 75
Issue: 7
Pages: 1311-1318

Researcher Affiliations

Overbeck, W
  • Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Witte, T S
    Heuwieser, W

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Asymptomatic Infections
      • Bacterial Infections / complications
      • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
      • Bacterial Infections / pathology
      • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
      • Bacteriological Techniques / methods
      • Bacteriological Techniques / veterinary
      • Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological / veterinary
      • Endometritis / diagnosis
      • Endometritis / etiology
      • Endometritis / pathology
      • Endometritis / veterinary
      • Female
      • Histological Techniques / methods
      • Histological Techniques / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horse Diseases / pathology
      • Horses
      • Sensitivity and Specificity

      Citations

      This article has been cited 17 times.
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