The usefulness of uterine lavage and acute phase protein levels as a diagnostic tool for subclinical endometritis in Icelandic mares.
BACKGROUND
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.
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.
Monika
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2886-3030
M
Sikora
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwidastreet 31, 50375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Jarosław
J
Król
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwidastreet 31, 50375, Wroclaw, Poland.
Marcin
M
Nowak
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.
Tadeusz
T
Stefaniak
Dýralæknir Sandhólaferja, 851, Hella, Iceland.
Gudmar
G
Aubertsson
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.
Roland
R
Kozdrowski
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D058345:Asymptomatic Infections; D004716:Endometritis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology; D014730:Veterinary Medicine / Q000379:methods*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D006242:Haptoglobins
Acute phase proteins; Efflux; Endometritis; Mare