Breeding Soundness of Mare

Question 1

Importance of general physical examination

Answer 1

• higher preg rates and fewer cycles per pregnancy
• earlier onset of regular oestrus cycles
• less likly to lose pregnancies
• support pregnancy to term
• provide good quality colostrum/milk
• Coggins test = carrier equine infectious anaemia

Question 2

External genetalia

Answer 2

• check discharge and abnormalities
• intact perineum and anus not sunken = (if sunken) predispose mare to infection due to vulval contamination by defication
• part vulva, intact vestibulovaginal seal
  incomplete = aspiration of air and can lead to uterine infection

Question 3

Palpation par rectum - ovaries

Answer 3

• palpate ovarian fossa - check for tumours and haematoma = excessive bleeding follows ovulation and formation of corpus hemorrhangicum (increased size)
• CL
• one ovary enlarged and one small and inactive = granulosa cell tumour
• hypoplastic ovaries = gonadal dysgenesis result of sex chromosome abnormality

Question 4

Palpation par rectum - uterus

Answer 4

• non preg - T/Y shaped with 2 uterine horns and uterine body
• symmetry of horns
• size
• abnormalities e.g. atrophy of endometrial folds, uterine tumours

Question 5

Palpation par rectum - cervix

Answer 5

• aid estimate stage of oestrus cycle
  ~ elongated/closed = dioestrus
  ~ shortend/dilated = oestrus
• cant identify abnormalities of lumen (need digital palpation and visual aid

Question 6

Vaginal speculum examination

Answer 6

• sterile disposable vaginal speculum inserted through clean vulva into the vaginal cavity
• requires lubricant and light
• reusable speculum (metal) vestibule further spread = better visualisation of floor of vestibule
• abnormalities: vaginitis, adhesions, tears of cervix, vaginal varicosities (blood vessels which rupture

Question 7

Uterine Endometrial Culture

Answer 7

• identify if microorganism are cuasing endometritis
• positive culture not always correct due to microorg outside of environment, cervix, vagina etc
• cleanse and dry area before
• swab endometrium
• retract swab back into guard before removing swab from uterus
• transport aseptically
• culture on media
• quantify 24-48 hours after inoculation of plate

Question 8

Uterine Endometrial Cytology

Answer 8

• swabbing cells from uterine cavity
• once collected, immediately roll onto surface of microscope slide, air dry and fix with stain
• examine under microscope for WBC (neutrophils), microorg and unhealthy luminal epithelial cells
• normal endometrial cytologic prepration = no wbc (0-2 neutrophils per high power field)/microorg and individual columnar epithelial cells
• acute/subacute endometritis = increase no. of wbc, degenerate epithelial cells
  (3-4 neutrophils/hpf = moderate inflamation and 5+ = severe inflamation

Question 9

Reasons to use endometrial cytology

Answer 9

• allow to identify if there is an inflamatory response and wether it is acute or subacute
• best way to identify fungi/yeast = organisms proliferate in on surface of luminal epithelial cells
• able to treat between oestrus period

Question 10

Endometrial biopsy

- categories

Answer 10

prognosis for the mare to become pregnant and carry a foal to term:
Category I: 80% to 100% chance

Category IIA: 50% to 80% chance

Category IIB: 10% to 50% chance

Category III: Less than 10% chance

Question 11

Endometrial biopsey - process

Answer 11

• biopsy punch must be passed far enough into uterus to ensure representative specimen of endometrium
• sample from base of uterine horn
• identify: peri glandular fibrosis, cystic glandular distension

Question 12

Ultrasound

Answer 12

• non-invasive
• used to identify ovarian/uterine tumours, haematomas, cysts
• high freq sound waves