Safety and Effects of a Commercial Ozone Foam Preparation on Endometrial Environment and Fertility of Mares.

This study investigates whether a commercial ozone foam product can safely treat equine endometritis (an inflammation of the uterus in horses) and improve a mare’s fertility. The study found that the treatment temporarily increased endometrial inflammation, but this resolved itself within a week. No adverse effects on mare pregnancys were found following the treatment, and there was a trend towards fewer inseminations neccessary to achieve pregnancy in the treated group.

Objective of the Study

• The main goal of this research is to assess the safety of a commercial ozone foam preparation known as Riger Spray®. It also aims to observe its effects on the endometrial environment and reproductive parameters in horses.

Methodology

• A sample of 24 mares were treated during their estrus cycle. Part of the sample, 16 mares, were treated with the ozone foam treatment (OG), and the others, 8 mares, were treated with 20ml of lactated Ringer’s solution (CG) as a control.
• Endometrial cytology samples were taken at five different times: before the ozone treatment (T0), 24 hours later (T1), after one week (T2), two weeks (T3), and when the subsequent estrous phase was detected (T4).
• Further samples for histological examination and a uterine swab for bacteriological examination were collected at T0 and T4.

Results and Conclusion

• The results showed an initial increase in endometrial inflammation in the mares treated with ozone foam. However, the inflammation resolved by itself after one week (T2). This finding suggests that the ozone foam treatment may initially irritate the endometrium, but the effect seems to be temporary.
• No significant differences were found in terms of inflammation for the control group, biopsy grade before and after treatment in both groups, and the number of pregnancies at the end of the season or first cycle.
• However, an interesting trend was observed wherein the number of inseminations required to achieve pregnancy tended to be lower in the ozone-treated group in comparison to the control group. This could suggest that the ozone foam treatment might enhance fertility, but further research would be needed to confirm this.