Abstract: Endometritis is a major cause for impaired fertility in mares. The objectives of this study were to collect information on diagnostic and treatment practices performed by veterinarians and to investigate possible effects of professional experience, caseload, and geographical location on the practitioners' management of endometritis cases. For this purpose, equine practitioners ( = 680) were asked to fill out an online survey (34 questions). The online survey yielded 117 responses by veterinarians practicing in all parts of Germany. Most respondents came from Lower Saxony and managed <20 mares per year. For the diagnosis of chronic infectious endometritis, uterine sampling for microbiological examination was performed manually with a swab by the majority of practitioners whereas only few used the speculum technique. The incidence of antibiotic resistant pathogens was reported to be <5% by almost all respondents. Most practitioners relied on systemic antibiotic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine. Only occasionally veterinarians used intrauterine antibiotic therapy. Uterine lavages were performed routinely by almost half of the respondents in case of positive uterine cultures, mostly with 0.9% saline solution. Irritant solutions (e.g., iodine, chlorhexidine, kerosene) were used less often. Collection of an endometrial culture after completion of the treatment was common practice. While only a very limited association of the geographical location of practitioner (e.g., on selection of mares for endometrial culture, < 0.05) was observed, the number of managed mares affected the answers notably (e.g., for use of irritating intrauterine treatment, < 0.05). The management of persistent breeding induced endometritis (PBIE) was influenced by the number of managed mares (e.g., for use of oxytocin, < 0.05) and 29.6% of respondents administered antibiotics as part of their PBIE management. In summary, treatment strategies in the field vary considerably and include also non-evidence-based methods, but most German practitioners apply the recommended suitable treatments. Following the guidelines for antibiotic usage, most veterinarians administer antibiotics dependent on endometrial culture results but do not use cytology, low-volume lavage, or biopsy routinely. Antibiotic resistant uterine pathogens are reported to be isolated infrequently and equine practitioners prefer systemic to local antibiotic treatment of endometritis.
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.
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 study investigates diagnostic and treatment practices adopted for Equine Endometritis by veterinarians and assesses the impact of professional experience, number of cases handled, and geographical location on their management strategy. The findings revealed variations in engagement practices and strategies and highlighted that majority engaged with recommended suitable treatments.
Research Methodology
The study was conducted through an online survey of 34 questions distributed to 680 equine practitioners.
Participants for this study included practitioners from all parts of Germany, with the majority being from Lower Saxony handling less than 20 mares a year.
The goal of the study was to understand the diagnosis and treatment practices adopted by veterinarians for chronic infectious endometritis.
Findings and Observations
For diagnosing chronic infectious endometritis, most practitioners performed uterine sampling for microbiological examination manually with a swab. However, a minor portion used the speculum technique.
The incidence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens was reported less than 5% by the majority of respondents.
Most of the practitioners primarily relied on systemic antibiotic treatment with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, rarely adopting intrauterine antibiotic therapy.
Almost half of the practitioners performed uterine lavages routinely in case of positive uterine cultures, mostly with a 0.9% saline solution. Irritant solutions like iodine, chlorhexidine, and kerosene were less preferred.
An endometrial culture collection after the end of the treatment was a common practice among respondents.
Impacts of Geographical Location and Caseload
While there was a limited association between the geographical location of the practitioner and the selection of mares for endometrial culture, the number of mares managed significantly influenced the responses regarding the use of irritating intrauterine treatment.
The management of persistent breeding induced endometritis (PBIE) was also impacted by the number of managed mares and more than a quarter of respondents used antibiotics as part of their PBIE management.
Summary and Conclusion
The study concluded that treatment strategies in the field vary greatly and also include non-evidence-based methods.
Antibiotic-resistant uterine pathogens are reported to be isolated infrequently and equine practitioners prefer systemic over local antibiotic treatment of endometritis.
While deviation from evidence-based methods was observed, most German practitioners were found to apply recommended suitable treatments, following guidelines for antibiotic usage primarily based on endometrial culture results.
Cite This Article
APA
Köhne M, Kuhlmann M, Tönißen A, Martinsson G, Sieme H.
(2020).
Diagnostic and Treatment Practices of Equine Endometritis-A Questionnaire.
Front Vet Sci, 7, 547.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00547
Brinsko S, Rigby S, Varner D, Blanchard T. A practical method for recognizing mares susceptible to post-breeding endometritis.. Proceedings of the 49th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners New Orleans, LA: American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) (2003). p. 363–5.
Brinsko S, Varner D, Blanchard T. The effect of uterine lavage performed four hours post insemination on pregnancy rate in mares.. Theriogenology (1991) 35:1111–19.
Bradecamp E, Ahlschwede S, Cook J. The effects of intra-uterine kerosene infusion on endometrial epithelial cilia concentration.. J Equine Vet Sci (2014) 1:134.
Pycock J, Newcombe J. The relationship between intraluminal uterine fluid, endometritis, and pregnancy rate in the mare.. Pferdeheilkunde (1996) 18:19–22.
Newcombe J. The effect of the incidence and depth of intra-uterine fluid in early dioestrus on pregnancy rate in mares.. Pferdeheilkunde (1997) 13:545.
Campistron M. Diagnostic et Traitement des Endométrites Bactériennes Chez la Jument: Étude des Pratiques des Vétérinaires Équins en France en 2015.. (2016) Available online at: https://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/15513/ (accessed Apr 2, 2020).
Dascanio J. How and when to treat endometritis with systemic or local antibiotics.. Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (2011), p. 24–31.
Spilker K-C, Sielhorst J, Martinsson G, Pricking S, Hassler W, Boese R. Accuracy of different endometrial swabbing techniques in the mare.. Pferdeheilkunde (2017) 2:172–8.
Verstraelen H, Vilchez-Vargas R, Desimpel F, Jauregui R, Vankeirsbilck N, Weyers S, Verhelst R, De Sutter P, Pieper DH, Van De Wiele T. Characterisation of the human uterine microbiome in non-pregnant women through deep sequencing of the V1-2 region of the 16S rRNA gene.. PeerJ 2016;4:e1602.
Ricketts S. Uterine and clitoral cultures.. Equine Reproduction Ames: Wiley-Blackwell; (2011). p. 1963–78.
. International Codes of Practice. Horserace Betting Levy Board (2020). Available online at: http://codes.hblb.org.uk/ (accessed April 02, 2020).
Nielsen JM, Troedsson MH, Pedersen MR, Bojesen AM, Lehn-Jensen H, Zent WW. Diagnosis of endometritis in the mare based on bacteriological and cytological examinations of the endometrium: comparison of results obtained by swabs and biopsies.. J Equine Vet Sci (2010) 30:27–30.
Benko T, Boldizar M, Novotny F, Hura V, Valocky I, Dudrikova K. Incidence of bacterial pathogens in equine uterine swabs, their antibiotic resistance patterns, and selected reproductive indices in English thoroughbred mares during the foal heat cycle.. Vet Med (2015) 60:613–20.
. Leitlinien für den sorgfältigen Umgang mit antibakteriellen wirksamen Tierarzneimittel [Federal Veterinary Surgeons‘ Association: Guidelines for the Prudent use of Antimicrobial Drugs]. Bundestierärztekammer (2015). Available online at: https://www.bundestieraerztekammer.de/tieraerzte/leitlinien/downloads/Antibiotika-Leitlinien_01-2015.pdf. (accessed April 02, 2020).
. Responsible and Prudent use of Antimicrobial Agents in Veterinary Medicine. OIE (2019). Available online at: https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahc/current/chapitre_antibio_use.pdf (accessed April 02, 2020).
Aurich C, Palm FM. Erkrankungen von Vulva, Vagina, Zervix, Uterus und Eileiter [Pathologies of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus and oviduct]. Reproduktionsmedizin beim Pferd [Equine Reproductive Medicine] Stuttgart: Parey Verlag; (2008). p. 85–94.
Wehrend A. Erkrankungen des Uterus [Pathologies of the Uterus]. Handbuch Pferdepraxis [Manual of Equine Practice] Stuttgart: Enke Verlag; (2016). p. 635–40.
Zent WW, Troedsson MH, Xue J-L. Postbreeding uterine fluid accumulation in a normal population of thoroughbred mares: a field study.. Proc Am Assoc Equine Pract (1998) 44:64–65.
LeBlanc MM. The current status of antibiotic use in equine reproduction.. Equine Vet Educ (2009) 21:156–67.
Davolli GM, Beavers KN, Medina V, Sones JL, Pinto CR, Paccamonti DL. Concentrations of sulfadiazine and trimethoprim in blood and endometrium of mares after administration of an oral suspension.. J Equine Vet Sci (2018) 67:27–30.
Witte T, Hahn K, Duerr S. Concentrations of gentamicin in serum, intrauterine fluid, and endometrial tissue after intravenous administration in healthy mares.. J Equine Vet Sci (2018) 66:115.
Bracher V, Neuschaefer A, Allen W. The effect of intra-uterine infusion of kerosene on the endometrium of mares.. J Reprod Fertil Suppl (1991) 44:706–07.
Madill S, Troedsson M, Santschi E, Malone E. Dose-response effect of intramuscular oxytocin treatment on myometrial contraction of reproductively normal mares during estrus.. Theriogenology (2002) 58:479–81.
Papa FO, Junior JAD, Alvarenga MA, Melo CM, Zahn FS, Lopes MD. Use of corticosteroid therapy on the modulation of uterine inflammatory response in mares after artificial insemination with frozen semen.. Pferdeheilkunde (2008) 24:79–82.
Boni R, Cecchini Gualandi S. Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Endometritis: Exploiting Knowledge Gained in Mares and Cows. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 13;12(18).
Köhne M, Hüsch R, Tönissen A, Schmidt M, Müsken M, Böttcher D, Hirnet J, Plötz M, Kittler S, Sieme H. Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages specific to Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus and evaluation of efficacy ex vivo. Front Microbiol 2024;15:1448958.