Diagnosis of Endometritis in the Bitch: A New Approach

Abstract

There are a few investigations into endometritis in the bitch and its relationship with failure to conceive remains unclear. This may be because of the difficulty in collecting uterine samples for further investigations. Recently, transcervical catheterization by vaginal endoscopy has been introduced allowing the evaluation of the endometrium. In this study, uterine cytology and bacteriology were evaluated in 26 infertile bitches. Endometritis was bacterial in origin in most cases (70% of affected bitches), but these results may be underestimated, as some other pathogens (anaerobic bacteria, mycoplasms and fungi) were not investigated. Endometritis, in our opinion, should be investigated in each case of unexplained infertility in bitches. The method used here seems reliable although defining more accurate classification criteria will improve the efficiency of this non-invasive technique.

Diseases of the Canine Uterus

“…; Fontaine et al. ). Clinicians and pathologists need to understand the morphologic features of the more common uterine conditions in the dog and cat for their assessments of these cases.…”

Uterine fluid from bitches with mating-induced endometritis reduces the attachment of spermatozoa to the uterine epithelium

“…There is increasing evidence that endometritis, and particularly mating-induced endometritis, is an important clinical condition of bitches (Watts and Wright, 1995;Fontaine et al, 2009;Groppetti et al, 2010;England et al, 2012a), which results in persistence of uterine luminal fluid (England et al, 2012b); is associated with influx of increased numbers of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) after mating or insemination (England et al, 2012a), and results in reduced pregnancy rate and litter size (England et al, 2012a,b). Interestingly, recent work has also hinted that the aetiology of the reduced fertility might be associated with bacterial contamination of the uterus, since pregnancy rates can be increased by the oral administration of antibiotics post-mating (England et al, 2012a,b).…”

Uterine lymphangiography: comparison of two methods for locating the medial iliac lymph node

“…In contrast, cases of infection and inflammation of the canine uterus are very common (Fontaine et al 2009, Pretzer 2008, Watts et al 1998, partially due to the physiology of the reproductive cycle, in which this organ is exposed to the hormone progesterone for a particularly long period (Johnston et al 2001). Although the etiology of endometritis is not entirely clear, it is associated with infertility in the bitch (Fontaine et al 2009).…”

“…Although the etiology of endometritis is not entirely clear, it is associated with infertility in the bitch (Fontaine et al 2009). Studies have intensified in an attempt to establish reliable prognostic factors that might also be used to reach an early diagnosis of uterine diseases, before complications result (Weiss 2004, Sant' Anna 2012, Mir et al 2013.…”