Evaluation of progesterone treatment to create a model for equine endometritis.

This study proposes a model to understand endometritis in horses based on the action of the hormone progesterone. Researchers used two groups of mares, giving one group supplementary antibiotic treatment alongside a hormone injection and then comparing bacterial growth in the two groups.

Overview of Research Methodology

• The experiment compiled data from 12 mares with healthy reproductive tracts.
• These mares were split into two groups, with all mares receiving a daily dose of progesterone.
• Five days later, a bacterium known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa was introduced into their uteri. The day this was done is referred to as Day 0 in the study.

Observations and Results

• On Day 6, endometrial swab samples from five mares showed the presence of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, while swabs from the other seven mares showed the growth of various other bacteria.
• Starting from Day 6, the mares in Group A were given an antibiotic infusion of ticarcillin disodium and clavulanate potassium. The mares in Group B, on the other hand, were only given infusions of saline solution.
• By comparing bacterial growth in the two groups on Days 8 and 13, it was found that a higher number of swabs from Group A mares resulted in no bacterial growth as compared to swabs from Group B mares.
• Furthermore, swabs from five out of the six mares in Group A showed an increase in fungal growth on Days 13 and 19. In response, the mares in Group B were also given the antibiotic infusions on Days 19, 20 and 21.

Conclusion

• In summary, the study found that progesterone treatment combined with antibiotic infusions might inhibit bacterial growth in the uterus but could also potentially induce fungal growth. This suggests that this process could be leveraged as a model to understand equine endometritis better, although the findings need to be complemented by further research.