科研之友
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摘要
Early diagnosis of endometritis and identification of pathogens involved are essential to choose the correct treatment and optimize fertility in the mare. The objective of this study was to compare results from endometrial swabs taken through the vagina manually, by speculum and forceps, and by iyetscope, a recently introduced rigid endoscope equipped with a monitor and two working channels, to identify the most reliable swabbing technique. Endometrial swabs for microbioloy and cytobrush samples to assess endometrial cytology were obtained from 88 estrous mares in a commercial breeding program by three different sampling techniques. Following a gynecological examination endometrial samples were taken transvaginally using a double -guarded uterine culture swab and cytobrush manual (MAN) (n = 29), a speculum (SPEC) (n = 30) or iVetscope (R) (SCOP) (n = 29). Endometrial swabbing was repeated after 48 h. The culture results assessed in an internationally accredited laboratory were related to the endometrial cytology (> 5 PMNs/10 HPF). The three different sampling methods showed significant differences in bacterial growth, especially in the second sampling after 48 hours. While 28/29, 97% of MAN-samples showed bacterial growth, bacteria were isolated from 22/29, 76% of SPEC- and 20/30, 67% of SCOP-samples (p < 0.05). Facultative pathogenic bacteria were significantly more often isolated from samples taken manually (16/29, 55.2%) than samples taken by speculum (5/29, 17.2%) or iVetscope (R) (4/30, 13.3%) 48 hours after the first sampling (p < 0.05). An increased number of samples with bacterial growth of more than three bacterial species in the first and second swab (31% and 37.9% in the MAN-group versus 3.3% and 0% in the SCOP-group and 0% and 6.9% in the SPEC-group at the first and second sampling, respectively; p < 0.01) reveals bacterial contamination from the caudal reproductive tract in swabs taken via the transvaginal manual approach. These results strongly recommend endometrial swabbing by instrumental techniques (speculum and forceps, or iVetscope (R)). Although, these swabbing techniques might be slightly more time consuming and require more material, the significantly reduced bacterial contamination underlines the relevance of the swabbing technique in equine practice.
- 出版日期2017-4
