Occurrence of Intrauterine Purulent Concrements in a Maiden Mare-A Case Report.

The research involves examining a rare case of pyometra (uterine infection) in a maiden mare, with unusual spherical masses detected inside the uterus. Successful treatment involved lavage to remove the masses and administering antibiotics, followed by the use of a stent to prevent recurrence.

Case Overview

• A 13-year-old Icelandic maiden mare was found suffering from pyometra, an uncommon uterine condition in horses, which showed up as recurrent vaginal discharge.
• Upon examination, unusual spherical masses were discovered within the uterus. Using hysteroscopy, these were identified as purulent concrements, essentially hardened accumulations of pus.

Diagnostic Procedures

• The diagnostic processes utilized in this case included ultrasonography and hysteroscopy. The former was effective in identifying the unusual internal formations, while the latter provided a definitive diagnosis of the purulent concrements.
• A microbiologic examination was performed on the removed concrements to determine the bacterial species causing the infection. This revealed the presence of several species including Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Actinobacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus intermedius, Pseudomonas fulva, Citrobacter freundii, and Chryseobacterium.

Treatment, Follow-up, and Conclusion

• The mare was systematically treated with a trimethoprim-sulfadiazine antibiotic and underwent uterine lavages for 10 days to eliminate the infection.
• Follow-up examinations revealed no remaining intrauterine masses but noted a repeat occurrence of pyometra due an unopenable cervical canal.
• The repeat pyometra was treated by inserting a cervical stent to prevent fluid build-up within the uterus.
• The study concluded by highlighting that hysteroscopy is the best method of diagnosing uterine masses which could significantly impact a horse’s fertility. It also suggested that intrauterine purulent concrements could be considered an atypical form of equine pyometra.