In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Essential Oils Against Endometritis-Causing Microorganisms in Mares.

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EO) from Ocimum basilicum (basil), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) on endometritis-causing microorganisms in mares. Serial concentrations of the EO from 30.00 mg/mL to 0.47 mg/mL were tested. The major compounds of O. basilicum EO were linalyl acetate (33.32 wt.%) and citronellal (25.06 wt.%); of R. officinalis EO were borneol (26.48 wt.%), trans-ß-ocimene (16.76 wt.%), camphene (12.45 wt.%), and α-phellandrene (11.08 wt.%); and of C. citratus EO were geranial (45.96 wt.%) and neral (32.62 wt.%). Regarding antimicrobial activity, C. citratus EO has had the highest inhibition percentage (73.9%), followed by O. basilicum (67.2%) and R. officinalis (58.7%). P. aeruginosa was the only pathogen unable to establish the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values for the studied EO. The EOs were effective against all other microorganisms (S. equi, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and C. Albicans). In conclusion, the EOs of O. basilicum, R. officinalis, and C. citratus have presented in vitro antimicrobial activity against microorganisms causing endometritis in mares.

High or Low Body Fat Deposition in the Presence of a Normal Oral Sugar Test is Not Associated With Postthaw Semen Parameters in Stallions.

This study compared the postthaw semen parameters of stallions with high and low body condition score (BCS) and evaluated associations between body morphometric parameters and postthaw semen parameters. Twenty stallions were split into Low BCS (BCS<7, n = 11) and High BCS (BCS ≥7, n = 9) groups, and underwent a complete morphometric analysis (e.g., neck scores and circumference, crest neck height, body weight, and height), and subcutaneous body fat thickness (SFT) at the tail head, withers, shoulders, and retroperitoneal space. A fasted oral sugar test (OST) was conducted on all stallions. One ejaculate from each stallion was frozen with a commercial egg yolk-based extender. Postthaw sperm motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, hydrogen peroxide and intracellular superoxide production, and lipid peroxidation were analyzed for all stallions. The circumference at 25% and 50% of the neck's length were larger for High-BCS stallions (P < .05). There were no differences between groups for the neck crest height (P > .05). Stallions with High BCS had greater SFT at the tail head than stallions with Low BCS (P < .05); however, there were no differences between groups in the SFT at the shoulders and withers (P > .05). All stallions had resting blood glucose below the cutoff for equine metabolic syndrome. There were no differences between groups for resting glucose concentrations or for a peak at 30 or 60 minutes after initiation of the OST (P > .05). There were no differences in sperm parameters between groups (P > .05). Collectively, the findings of the present study suggest that High BCS or Low BCS in the presence of normal OST do not explain post-thaw semen parameters.

Comparative Efficacy of Histrelin Acetate and hCG for Inducing Ovulation in Brazilian Northeastern Jennies (Equus africanus asinus).

The goal of this study was to compare the efficiency of histrelin acetate (GnRH analog) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to hasten ovulation in Brazilian Northeastern jennies (Equus africanus asinus). Thirty cycles of ten jennies were randomly assigned in one of the three groups: G0 (control group), saline; G1, 250 µg of histrelin acetate; G2, 2500 IU of hCG. Jennies were evaluated by transrectal palpation and ultrasonography, and had the administration of an ovulation-inducing agent when a follicle measuring between 29 and 32 mm of diameter was diagnosed. Jennies were monitored every 6 hours by transrectal ultrasonography until ovulation. The interval between prostaglandin administration and ovulation was lower (P < .05) in jennies from the G1 (145.2 ± 34.6 hours) and G2 (147.4 ± 27.3 hours) groups compared with the control cycle (220.0 ± 41.8 hours). Both treatments (G1, 41.15 ± 3.5 hours; G2, 37.8 ± 2.5 hours) also reduced (P < .05) the interval that jennies took to ovulate after the administration of the ovulation-inducing agent compared with the control (81.8 ± 28.8 hours). All jennies from G1 and G2 ovulated up to 48 hours after ovulation induction, whereas 100% of jennies in the control cycle ovulated later (>48 hours from the administration of saline). In conclusion, both histrelin acetate and hCG at the used dose are efficient ovulation-inducing agents in jennies promoting ovulation up to 48 hours after administration.