Effect of uterine bacterial inflammation in donor mare plasmatic progesterone (PP4) at flushing time - is effluent analysis a helpful tool?

FUMUSO, ELIDA; MARINONE, ANA INÉS; BRUNO, SANTIAGO; BRUST, ALINA; HERRERA, MARCELA FERNÁNDA; REDOLATTI, CECILIA; BIANCHI, CAROLINA; LOSINNO, LUIS

JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Año: 2012 vol. 32 p. 401 - 401

0737-0806

Our objectives were to analyze the impact of uterine inflammation on PP4 at the time of embryo recovery and evaluate if exfoliative cytology (EC) andbacterial culture (BC) effluents from the embryo evaluation plate could be a useful tool in an Equine Embryo Transfer Program. This study was performed using Silla Argentino mares in Tandil, Argentina, between November 2011 and February 2012. Eighty six plasma samples and effluents were analyzed from 20 donor mares. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein and immediately centrifuged. Separated plasma was stored at -20 C until analysis. Concentrations of P4 were analyzed by a RIA kit (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA). Assay sensitivity of P4 was 0.1 ng ml1 and the intraassay coefficient of variation was less than 13% for concentrations between 0.1 and 40 ng ml1. Mares previously inseminated were flushed on day 7 or 8 post-ovulation and samples fromtheembryo evaluation platewere taken under laminar flow hood, and centrifuged. The sediment was used for analysis. Sterile swabs were used to prepare slides for cytology and a quick stain was used to identify Polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in 10 fields at 1000X. An average >4 PMN´s were considered positive. Another swabwas used for bacteriology seeded in blood agar, and incubated for 48 h at 37C. More than 5 colonies was considered positive. Bacteriawere classifiedas gramnegative (G-) orpositive (G+) and typified. Criteria for embryo, cytology and culture were negative or positive. Comparisons of PP4 values were made fromflushings showing: EC&BC neg, EC&BC pos to G-, EC&BC positive to G+, and EC negative & BC +. Data were analyzed using the GraphPad Instat software support, Kruskal-wallis ANOVA test analysis was performed and the value obtained was P < 0.0001. Differences were found among EC&BC positive to G-, (PP4 1.5 ngml1 Min: 0,1, Max: 5.7) and EC&BC negative PP4 (11.5 ng ml1; Min 2.8, Max 31.7); EC&BC positive to G+ (PP4 14.4 ng ml1; Min: 8,4, Max: 33.7); EC negative & BC positive (12.1 ng ml1; Min: 8,4,Max: 33.7)No differenceswere detectedamong the three latest groups (P> 0.05). G- bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n: 9) and Escherichia coli (n: 1) and G+ were Streptococcus zooepidemicus (n: 5) and Staphylococcus aureus (n: 1).We concluded that based on this preliminary trial that plasmatic P4 showed different patterns according to bacterial strain and effluent samples showed to be useful at the time to decide if treatment in a donor mare should be necessary.