Endometritis, a common cause of infertility in mares.

This research study investigates the rate of infertility in Highland and Arabian mare horses in Yugoslavia due to different forms of endometritis. The researchers also assess the effectiveness of using sterile salt solutions to boost conception rates.

Overview of the Research and Key Findings

• The research was conducted on 44 mares from the Highland and Arabian breeds in Yugoslavia. These mares had previously failed to conceive during a breeding season, and the researchers identified various forms of endometritis as the root cause of this infertility problem.
• They found chronic mucopurulent and latent catarrhal endometritis to be the most common forms of the condition. Essentially, these consist primarily of inflammation of the uterus lining caused by an infection, resulting in mucus and pus or a swollen mucus membrane respectively.
• The researchers used a saline (salt solution) wash of different concentrations (1% to 7% w/v – weight/volume) as a treatment for the mare’s condition. They found that administering the saline wash every two days for nine days significantly improved the horses’ fertility.
• The treatment led to almost half (47.7%) of the mares conceiving, on average, 15.2 days after starting treatment. In addition, 36.7% of mares became pregnant the following spring.
• Finally, the researchers identified two main causes of endometritis in the mares they studied: mating at incorrect oestrus stage and excessive mating during oestrus.

Significance of the Research

• This study sheds light on the high prevalence of endometritis as a cause of infertility in certain breeds of mares. By identifying the most common forms of the disease, it can now be easier for veterinarians to provide accurate diagnoses and improve mare fertility outcomes.
• Moreover, the research establishes the effectiveness of a simple saline wash therapy. The significant increase in successful conceptions after the saline regimen indicates it can be a useful and cost-effective intervention to manage endometritis and improve fertility rates in mares.
• Also, the study provides insights into the mistakes handlers and breeders may be making during the horse breeding process. Breeding during incorrect stages of the oestrus cycle or engaging in excessive mating during oestrus, as observed in the study, might exacerbate the likelihood of endometritis.
• The findings from this research can ultimately be applied to enhance horse breeding practices and potential interventions for treating endometritis-induced infertility in mares.