Randomized Comparative Trial of Acupuncture and Exercise Versus Uterine Ecbolics in the Treatment of Persistent Postbreeding Endometritis in Mares.
Abstract: Although exercise and acupuncture are frequently used therapies to treat persistent postbreeding endometritis, their efficacy to date is unproven. The objective of this study was to determine if exercise and acupuncture are effective methods to reduce intrauterine fluid and compare the effectiveness of these treatments to the use of uterine ecbolics. Twelve mares susceptible to postbreeding endometritis were enrolled in the study with a randomized cross-over design using both positive and negative controls. During each estrous cycle, mares were randomized into one of six treatment groups, including stall rest (SR), oxytocin, cloprostenol, exercise, electroacupuncture, and oxytocin and exercise. Each mare was challenged with an insemination dose of 500 × 106 dead sperm at time 0 hours. Intrauterine fluid measurements were taken at 0, 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours postbreeding. Associations between treatment efficacy and fluid clearance were investigated using a random-effects logistic regression model that controlled for positive uterine culture. Compared with the SR negative control, exercise was the most effective treatment and had 29.7 times increased odds of fluid clearance. The second most effective treatment was oxytocin alone, with 16.9 times increased odds of fluid clearance. This was followed by cloprostenol that had 10.6 greater odds of fluid clearance, and finally, the treatment that combined exercise with oxytocin had 8.4 times greater odds of fluid clearance. Results from this study confirm that exercise and exercise combined with oxytocin are effective methods to clear intrauterine fluid.
Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2019-11-06 PubMed ID: 32067656DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102821Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the efficacy of exercise and acupuncture versus uterine ecbolics in treating persistent postbreeding endometritis in mares. According to the study’s results, exercise, and especially when it is combined with the hormone oxytocin, are effective ways to reduce intrauterine fluid associated with this condition.
Objective and Design of the Study
- This research aimed to establish whether exercise and acupuncture serve as successful treatments against persistent postbreeding endometritis in mares. Specifically, it assessed their ability to diminish the accumulation of intrauterine fluid.
- The study was designed as a randomized cross-over trial. It included both positive and negative controls to compare different treatments within the same subjects, thereby minimizing variation.
Study Participants and Procedures
- The study involved twelve mares known to be vulnerable to postbreeding endometritis.
- During each estrus cycle, the mares were randomly assigned to one of the six treatment groups, which included stall rest (SR), oxytocin, cloprostenol, exercise, electroacupuncture, or a combination of oxytocin and exercise.
- An insemination dose of dead sperm was given to each mare to initiate the condition, and intrauterine fluid levels were monitored at several intervals afterwards.
Data Analysis and Results
- A random-effects logistic regression model was used to assess the correlation between treatment efficacy and fluid clearance. The model accounted for the influence of positive uterine culture on the results.
- Compared to stall rest, a negative control, exercise was determined as the most effective treatment, with almost 30 times more chances of fluid clearance.
- Oxytocin alone was the second most successful treatment, followed closely by cloprostenol.
- The combination of exercise and oxytocin was found to be slightly less effective than the individual treatments, yet still significantly more effective than the negative control.
Conclusion
- This study provides empirical evidence of the efficacy of exercise, alone or combined with oxytocin, as effective treatments for persistent postbreeding endometritis in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Swift LA, Christensen BW, Samocha MB, le Jeune SS, Millares-Ramirez EM, Dujovne GA.
(2019).
Randomized Comparative Trial of Acupuncture and Exercise Versus Uterine Ecbolics in the Treatment of Persistent Postbreeding Endometritis in Mares.
J Equine Vet Sci, 86, 102821.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102821 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- William R. Prichard Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA. Electronic address: gdujovne@ucdavis.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Acupuncture Therapy / veterinary
- Animals
- Endometritis / therapy
- Endometritis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Holyoak GR, Ma A. Evidence-Based Application of Acupuncture in Theriogenology. Vet Sci 2022 Jan 28;9(2).
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