title: Susceptibility to persistent breeding-induced endometritis in the mare: relationship to endometrial biopsy score and age, and variations between seasons.
abstract: The objectives were to: (1) investigate the associations of age and endometrial biopsy score with uterine fluid retention after insemination; and (2) determine if a strict classification of susceptibility to persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) based on biopsy score, endometrial cytology, and fluid retention after inseminations, is consistent over subsequent breeding seasons. In Experiment 1, 57 mares were inseminated with 10(9) freeze-killed sperm during estrus and evaluated for uterine fluid retention 48 h and 96 h after insemination. Comparisons were made between fluid retention and biopsy score or age. In Experiment 2, a subset of 14 mares was classified for susceptibility to persistent breeding-induced endometritis in two subsequent breeding seasons. Biopsy score and age were associated with fluid retention (P < 0.001). In addition, age was related to biopsy score (P < 0.001). Of the mares examined for susceptibility, 36% (5 of 14) changed status during subsequent seasons. Three mares changed to a more severe classification (intermediate to susceptible, or resistant to intermediate), whereas two mares changed to a less severe classification (susceptible to intermediate).
authors.affiliation: The Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. elizabeth.woodward@uky.edu
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christoffersen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Squires
authors.forename: M H T
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Troedsson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D001826:Body Fluids; D001947:Breeding; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000662:veterinary*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D012621:Seasons