Open Access
Research (Published online: 16-02-2024)
19. Use of cytobrush for bacteriological and cytological diagnosis of endometritis in mares
Chiara Del Prete, Francesca Paola Nocera, Giuseppe Piegari, Veronica Palumbo, Luisa De Martino, Natascia Cocchia, Orlando Paciello, Chiara Montano, and Maria Pia Pasolini
Veterinary World, 17(2): 398-406

Chiara Del Prete: Reproduction Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Francesca Paola Nocera: Diagnostic Service of Pathology and Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Giuseppe Piegari: Diagnostic Service of Pathology and Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Veronica Palumbo: Regional Reference Center for Urban Veterinary Hygiene (CRIUV), Naples, Italy.
Luisa De Martino: Diagnostic Service of Pathology and Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Natascia Cocchia: Reproduction Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Orlando Paciello: Diagnostic Service of Pathology and Animal Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Chiara Montano: Surgery Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Maria Pia Pasolini: Surgery Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.398-406

Article history: Received: 25-10-2023, Accepted: 24-01-2024, Published online: 16-02-2024

Corresponding author: Chiara Del Prete

E-mail: chiara.delprete@unina.it

Citation: Del Prete C, Nocera FP, Piegari G, Palumbo V, De Martino L, Cocchia N, Paciello O, Montano C, and Pasolini MP (2024) Use of cytobrush for bacteriological and cytological diagnosis of endometritis in mares, Veterinary World, 17(2): 398–406.
Abstract

Background and Aim: A combined microbial and cytological examination of uterine samples is the main diagnostic method for endometritis in mares. This study aimed to describe a procedure for using the same uterine cytobrush (CB) for both bacteriological and cytological evaluation.

Materials and Methods: The procedure consists of rolling the CB onto a sterilized glass slide immediately after collection and before the transfer into a sterile saline solution. In Experiment 1, a comparison between bacteriological results of the cotton swab (CS) and CB or pellet was made in 10 mares; in Experiment 2, bacteriological and cytological results were compared between different processing methods of CB in 28 mares; in other 6 mares, a CB was processed for cytology only, to investigate the reasons for the low cellularity of the pellet.

Results: The agreement between culture results from the CB and CS was evaluated, and a comparison between the cytological data obtained by different processing methods of CB was performed. The perfect agreement between the CB and CS microbiological results was found. The described procedure enables useful diagnostic smears for cytology. Moreover, the seeding of both the tip of CB and the saline solution used for the transport produced accurate bacteriological results.

Conclusion: The protocol described in this study for the use of CB for both cytological and bacteriological analysis could be used for the diagnosis of endometritis. To maximize diagnostic sample quality, cytology slides must be prepared with meticulous care in the field to preserve cellular integrity and minimize artifacts.

Keywords: endometritis, field conditions, mare, microbiology brush, uterine sampling.