Endometrial histopathology, bacteriology and cytology outcomes in mares with early embryonic death (EED): a field study.

This research compares the endometrial environment in mares experiencing Early Embryonic Death (EED) with another group in the diestrus phase, using different sampling techniques to analyze for cytological, bacteriological, and histopathological changes. The findings revealed no significant difference in uterine environment between the two groups.

Comparison of Sampling Methods

• The researchers used three sampling methods on the mares: cotton swab (CS), cytobrush (CB), and uterine biopsy (B). These methods were utilized to perform cytological, bacteriological, and histopathological examinations.
• The study compared the effectiveness of the CS and CB methods against the B method, which was used as a reference, because it revealed the highest number of positive results in both cytological and bacteriological examinations for both groups.
• Uterine biopsy was considered the most reasonable sampling method for diagnosing the state of the endometrium.

Comparative Study Between EED and Control Group

• The researchers then compared the cytological, bacteriological, and histopathological findings between the EED and control (diestrus phase) animals using the B sampling method.
• The comparison showed a penchant towards a higher prevalence of subclinical endometritis in the control group compared to the EED group, but this difference wasn’t statistically significant (p≥0.05).
• In terms of bacteriological results, both groups showed similarity, while positive cytological results were higher in the control group. Again, these differences were not statistically significant (p≥0.05).

Histopathological Findings

• In the EED mares, endometrial degeneration was better expressed, with all mares recording grades IIB and III on the Kenney-Doig scale. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the EED and control group when it came to this aspect (p≥0.05).

Overall Findings

• In the conclusion, no clear difference in the uterine environment between the EED mares and control mares was established, suggesting that factors beyond the ones studied might be influencing embryonic losses.