Uterine hemodynamic patterns, oxidative stress, and chromoendoscopy in mares with endometritis.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of Doppler ultrasound for determining alterations in uterine thickness and uterine arteries, use of chromohysteroscopy in evaluating endometritis with biopsies, and the impact of endometritis on oxidative and hormonal status. Twenty Arabian mares were divided into control and endometritis groups. Each underwent a physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, chromoendoscopy, and uterine biopsy. Blood samples from each animal were collected for hematologic, hormonal, and oxidative analysis. Results revealed a significant increase in estradiol, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide metabolites (NOMs) associated with a significant decrease in progesterone and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the endometritis group. There was a significant difference in uterine thickness in the endometritis group. Uterine blood flow analyzed by color mode showed a significant increase in the endometritis group, while the spectral mode showed a significant increase in Doppler velocities and blood flow rate accompanied by a significant decrease in Doppler indices. The endometritis group showed ridged, bluish color in the endometrial wall, indicating hyperemia. Biopsy showed mononuclear inflammatory cells and edema in the endometrial interstitial tissue with sloughing of the epithelial lining. Conclusion: Endometritis in mares is associated with oxidative processes and presents with an increase in MDA and NOMs and a decrease in TAC. Doppler ultrasound improved endometritis diagnosis because it showed alterations in uterine vascularization. Chromoendoscopy improved the accuracy in taking biopsy samples because it allows the practitioner to select appropriate areas for biopsy to improve histopathological diagnostic outcomes. Therefore, this technique is worthy of further study in the field of veterinary equine reproduction.

Evaluation of chromocystoscopy in the diagnosis of cystitis in female donkeys.

Early detection of cystitis in equine is essential to improve the prognosis and outcome of therapy. However, the conventional white light endoscopy is not sufficiently accurate for this purpose. Hence, this study evaluated chromoendoscopy as a recent diagnostic tool for cystitis in female donkeys. For this purpose, 5 apparently normal donkeys (control group) and 5 female donkeys with cystitis (diseased group) were used. Physical and rectal examinations, urine analysis, white light cystoscopy, methylene blue-based chromoendoscopy and histopathology were performed in all animals. Turbid urine exhibiting an alkaline pH and a significant (P = .02) increase in the numbers of RBCs and WBCs was observed in the diseased group compared to the control one. In the control group, white light cystoscopy showed a smooth pale pink glistening mucosa with two openings of the ureters and visible submucosal blood vessels. During chromocystoscopy, faint bluish discoloration of the mucosal surface with clearly visible submucosal blood vessels was detectable. These findings were correlated with the histopathological findings of the biopsies collected from the urinary bladder. In the diseased group, white-light cystoscopy showed clearly visible blood vessels, mildly hyperaemic mucosa in focal or diffuse forms and small vesicle formation. Chromocystoscopy revealed dark bluish oedematous and irregular mucosa either in a focal form or a diffuse form (marbled appearance) with deeply stained submucosal blood vessels. Histopathologically, the urothelium was hyperplastic with squamous metaplasia and the lamina propria was infiltrated with few leukocytes and congested blood vessels. Small bluish dots representing the absorbed methylene blue dye were seen in the inflamed areas against the lightly stained mucosa of the bladder. Severe diffuse necrotic cystitis was also seen with bacterial aggregations on the surface. Gram's staining revealed both gram positive bacilli and Gram positive coccobacilli. In conclusion, chromoendoscopy is a helpful tool for early diagnosis of cystitis in female donkeys and enables targeted biopsies, which improves the prognosis and outcome of therapy.