Embryonic loss in pony mares induced by intrauterine infusion of Candida parapsilosis

B. A. Ball, S. J. Shin, V. H. Patten, M. C. Garcia, G. L. Woods

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pony mares which were detected pregnant by transrectal ultrasonography received a single intrauterine infusion of either sterile saline (control, n = 12 mares) or 106 Candida parapsilosis (treated, n = 12 mares) between Days 11 to 14 postovulation. Subsequent embryonic loss was studied by daily ultrasonography of the mare's uterus, by serum progesterone levels, by endometrial swabs for cytologic and microbiologic examination and by endometrial biopsies that were taken after embryonic loss was detected. Significantly fewer (P<0.01) embryonic losses occurred in control than in treated mares ( 4 12 vs 12 12). The mean interval from intrauterine infusion until embryonic loss was 5.8 ± 2.8 d for control mares (n = 4) and 2.1 ± 0.2 d for treated mares (n = 12). Prior to embryonic loss, moderate to marked edema of the endometrial folds in 12 of 12 treated mares and free fluid in the uterine lumen of 5 of 12 treated mares were detected by ultrasonography. After embryonic loss, Candida parapsilosis was cultured from the uteri of 8 of 12 treated mares, and E. coli was cultured from the uteri of 2 of 4 control mares. Postloss endometrial smears had cytologic evidence of inflammation in 10 of 12 treated mares and 3 of 4 control mares. Intrauterine inoculation of C. parapsilosis consistently induced embryonic loss and may provide a basis to further study the relationship between endometritis and embryonic loss in mares.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)835-847
Number of pages13
JournalTheriogenology
Volume29
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1988

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank Thornbrook Farms and the Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trust for financial support and Dr. C. B. Baker for helpful suggestions. Technical assistance was provided by S. Chapman, P. Kelley, D. Lucas, K. Roneker and D. Vanderwall. Part of these results were presented to the IV International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (I). 4 Present address: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine and Surgery, WOI Regional Program of Veterinary Medicine, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843.

Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Candida parapsilosis
  • embryonic loss
  • endometritis
  • mare
  • progesterone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Small Animals
  • Food Animals
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Equine

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