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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / The usefulness of uterine lavage and acute phase protein lev...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2016; 58(1); 50; doi: 10.1186/s13028-016-0233-4

The usefulness of uterine lavage and acute phase protein levels as a diagnostic tool for subclinical endometritis in Icelandic mares.

Abstract: Endometritis is a common problem in a broodmare practice, often leading to infertility. The diagnosis is based on several methods such as cytology, bacteriology and histopathology; however the outcome of these methods may be inconclusive even when used together. The objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the usefulness of acute phase proteins as an additional diagnostic tool for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in mares and (2) to evaluate the association between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and inflammation of the uterus. Materials were collected from 53 Icelandic mares with subclinical endometritis. Endometrial swabs and uterine lavage for cytological and bacteriological examinations and two endometrial biopsies were taken. Blood samples were collected 12-24 h after ovulation to determine the concentrations of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin in the 53 subfertile mares and, for comparison, from 20 non-pregnant mares that later conceived. Results: Twenty-five mares were classified as positive for endometritis based on endometrial biopsy, which was used as the 'gold standard'. We observed a correlation between cloudy efflux in the lavage and (1) polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) infiltration of the endometrium (P = 0.031), (2) positive cytology in samples obtained by cotton swabs (P = 0.019) and uterine lavage (P = 0.011), and (3) positive microbiology from samples obtained by cotton swabs (P = 0.001) and uterine lavage (P = 0.047). The degree of agreement between PMN infiltration and positive cytology from samples taken by cotton swabs and uterine lavage was fair to moderate. We found no association between the concentration of acute phase proteins and infiltration of the endometrium by PMNs, or with positive results of cytological and microbiological examinations. Conclusions: Measurement of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin was not proven useful for diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in Icelandic mares. Macroscopic changes in the fluid collected by lavage were not consistently indicative of infection, but when present they indicate inflammation in the uterus with a high probability.
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Publication Date: 2016-09-07 PubMed ID: 27604098PubMed Central: PMC5015198DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0233-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research studies the effectiveness of acute phase proteins and uterine lavage as diagnostic tools for endometritis (inflammation of the uterus lining) in Icelandic mares. The researchers found out that these methods were not significantly effective in diagnosing the condition.

Study Objectives and Methodology

  • The research had two main goals: to understand whether acute phase proteins could be a practical diagnostic tool for subclinical endometritis in mares and to study the relationship between macroscopic changes in uterine flushes and uterus inflammation.
  • This study used materials collected from 53 Icelandic mares suffering from subclinical endometritis. Endometrial swabs and uterine lavage were carried out for pathological and bacteriological examinations.
  • Two subsequent endometrial biopsies were performed. Blood samples were taken 12-24 hours after ovulation to track concentrations of serum amyloid A and haptoglobin. For comparison purposes, blood samples from 20 non-pregnant mares that later conceived were also taken.

Research Results

  • Through endometrial biopsy (the gold standard), 25 mares were found positive for endometritis.
  • There was a correlation found between cloudy discharge in lavage and conditions like infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) to the endometrium, positive cytology from samples obtained by cotton swabs and uterine lavage, and positive microbiology from the same samples.
  • The correlation between PMN infiltration and positive cytology was found to be fair to moderate.
  • However, no connection was found between the concentration of acute phase proteins and PMNs inner uterine lining infiltration or the positive results of cytological and microbiological tests.

Final Conclusions

  • The researchers concluded that measuring serum amyloid A and haptoglobin did not prove useful for diagnosing subclinical endometritis amongst Icelandic mares.
  • While macroscopic changes in uterine lavage fluid did not consistently indicate an infection, when changes were present, they indicated a high probability of inflammation in the uterus.

Cite This Article

APA
Sikora M, Król J, Nowak M, Stefaniak T, Aubertsson G, Kozdrowski R. (2016). The usefulness of uterine lavage and acute phase protein levels as a diagnostic tool for subclinical endometritis in Icelandic mares. Acta Vet Scand, 58(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-016-0233-4

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 1
Pages: 50

Researcher Affiliations

Sikora, Monika
  • Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzkistreet 49, 50366, Wroclaw, Poland. monika.sikora88@gmail.com.
Król, Jarosław
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwidastreet 31, 50375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Nowak, Marcin
  • Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwidastreet 31, 50375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Stefaniak, Tadeusz
  • Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwidastreet 31, 50375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Aubertsson, Gudmar
  • Dýralæknir Sandhólaferja, 851, Hella, Iceland.
Kozdrowski, Roland
  • Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzkistreet 49, 50366, Wroclaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / analysis
  • Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Asymptomatic Infections
  • Endometritis / blood
  • Endometritis / diagnosis
  • Endometritis / veterinary
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Haptoglobins / analysis
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / veterinary
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / standards
  • Therapeutic Irrigation / veterinary
  • Uterus / pathology
  • Veterinary Medicine / methods

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