title: A comparison of the cytobrush and uterine lavage techniques to evaluate endometrial cytology in clinically normal postpartum dairy cows.
abstract: This study compares cytobrush and lavage techniques for the assessment of endometrial cytology (EC) in clinically normal postpartum dairy cows. The EC samples were collected from Holstein cows (n = 35) during visit 1 (V1) at 20 to 33 d in milk (DIM) and 2 wk later during visit 2 (V2) at 34 to 47 DIM by using both techniques. A minimum of 100 cells were counted to determine the percentage of cells that were neutrophils (%PMN). The mean %PMN was significantly different between the techniques at V1 (P = 0.001), but not at V2 (P = 0.474). Overall, the %PM N decreased with time postpartum (r2 = 0.36; P = 0.001), but not within V1 (P > 0.05) or V2 (P > 0.1). Uterine diameter was negatively correlated with fluid recovery by the lavage technique (r2 = 0.41; P = 0.002). The mean %PMN was not influenced by the volume of fluid recovered in successful attempts, but 17% (12/70) of attempts yielded no fluid. In conclusion, the cytobrush technique is a consistent and reliable method for obtaining endometrial samples for cystologic examination from postpartum dairy cows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.
authors.forename: Ramanathan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kasimanickam
authors.forename: Todd F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Cathy J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gartley
authors.forename: Ken E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D009504:Neutrophils; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*