Abstract

One of the most commonly encountered challenges in equine breeding is endometritis, which can be difficult to resolve and causes considerable economic losses to the industry. It is a multifactorial condition, developing as an exaggerated form of the normal physiological response to breeding. Seminal plasma proteins, spermatozoa, bacteria and debris initiate an inflammatory response; the resulting fluid and neutrophils are then cleared from the uterus along with the debris. However, in some mares, the response is prolonged or exaggerated, with much fluid formation and neutrophil infiltration leading to acute endometritis. A bacterial cause has been implicated, although in some cases no pathogenic organisms can be isolated on culture. It has been postulated that any one of a variety of bacteria could be involved, or dysbiosis of the uterine microbiome could be responsible. Repeated episodes of acute endometritis may lead to the pathology associated with chronic endometritis, with mucociliary dysfunction, vascular degeneration and plasma cell infiltration. This review examines the information that is currently available about equine endometritis, particularly about the role of the inseminate in the uterus, and its current treatment. There are some promising lines of research into treatment or prevention that may help to resolve the issue.

Keywords

Post-breeding endometritis; Acute endometritis; fluid and leucocyte accumulation; Bacteria; altered mucociliary activity; Plasma cell infiltration; chronic endometritis.

Published in

Frontiers in Veterinary Science
2022, Volume: 8, article number: 799619

SLU Authors

• Morrell, Jane

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science
Animal and Dairy Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.799619

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/114575