Laparoscopic evaluation of oviductal patency in the standing mare.

The research article discusses a study performed to evaluate the presence of blockages in the oviducts of mares which might cause infertility. The study used a test involving the transfer of microspheres from the oviduct to the uterus to identify these blockages.

Objective of the study

• The main objective of the study was to assess whether the transport of microspheres (tiny round particles) from the oviduct to the uterus is related to the presence or absence of intraluminal masses (blockages) within the oviduct.

Methodology

• A standing laparoscopic technique was applied to cannulate the oviducts and instill 15-μm sized fluorescent beads in 16 light-breed mares, or female horses.
• 48 hours following surgery, uterine washing (lavage) was undertaken to collect and quantify the number of beads that had been transported into the uterus.
• After this step, mares were euthanized and their reproductive tracts were retrieved.
• Postmortem evaluation helped determine the presence of intraluminal masses by comparing it with the number of beads recovered in the uterine lavage fluid.

Findings

• If no beads were transported to the uterus, the test was considered positive for intraluminal masses – indicating the potential cause of infertility or subfertility in the mares.
• The sensitivity (ability of the test to correctly identify mares with intraluminal masses) and the specificity (ability of the test to correctly identify mares without intraluminal masses) were 71.4% and 85.7%, respectively.

Significance

• The study brings a new approach in clinical veterinary setting to determine the patency of the oviducts in mares.
• However, the authors did not discuss in detail the practical applicability of the test, and its efficiency considering the process involves the euthanasia of the mare.