Transient bacteraemia of oral origin commonly occurs during dental extraction in horses. As none of the horses developed complications associated with bacteraemia during the observation period after surgery, the significance of this bacteraemia remains uncertain. The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting Information.

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The present paper describes the functional morphology of endometrial maidifferenUation in mares according to the classification of Schoon et al. (1998). The ptimary diagnosis is based on the investigation of routinely H.-E. stained slides, supplemented by immunohistological techniques (estrogen and progesterone-receptors, Ki-67 antigen, intermediate filaments, laminin) of formalin-fixed biopsy specimens. The morphological findings are interpreted as indicalive for hormonal disturbances due to ovarian neoplasms and various ovarian dystrophies, or as a symptom of alterations affecung either the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian-endometrial axis or the local steroid hormone receptor status. Clinical symptoms are mostly absent in cases without ovarian abnormalities. No relationship can be identified between endometrial malditfe rentiation and the age or parity of the mare or season. From the authors' point of view endometrial malditferentiation should be taken into account in the assessment of endometrial biopsy specimens as one important parameter leading to temporary or permanent fertility problems. In a certain case, however, the definite prognosis with respect to reversibility remains unclear, because the aetiopathogenesis has not yet been identified except for those cases of endocrine active ovarian neoplasms. In this field an intensified co operation between clinicians and pathologists is necessary. Especially systematic case control studies, including endocrinology and determination of foaling rates may reveal further understanding resulting in efficient plans of treatments.

In the equine endometrium, the subclassification of lymphocytes may provide further insights into the immune defense and the pathogenesis of a non-suppurative endometritis. In routine formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue, there is no preservation of CD4 and CD8 antigens of T-helper cells and cytotoxic T cells, respectively. So far, the immunohistochemical detection of CD4-and CD8-immunopositive lymphocytes in the equine endometrium was only achieved by the use of frozen cryostat sectioned tissue samples. The aim of the present study on the equine endometrium was 1) to explore alternative fixation methods for the immunohistochemical detection of CD4 and CD8 antigens, 2) to reveal the method most suitable for the routine diagnostic work-up in conjunction with an immunohistochemical characterization of lymphocyte subpopulations and 3) to examine the distribution of CD4-and CD8-immunopositive lymphocytes in the equine endometrium without and with a non-suppurative endometritis. Using the zinc-salt and the Hope ®-fixative as alternative fixatives, the immunohistochemical detection of CD4-and CD8-immunopositive lymphocytes was possible. In haemalaun eosin stained tissue sections, however, only zinc-salt fixed tissue had an optimal tissue morphology comparable to the tissue preservation in formalin-fixed tissue. The immunohistochemical examination of endometrial tissue samples of 2 mares without endometritis and 7 mares with a mild superficial non-suppurative endometritis showed the presence of CD4-and CD8-immunopositive subpopulations within the stratum compactum and stratum spongiosum. The mild non-suppurative endometritis was associated with increased numbers of CD4-and CD8-immunopositive lymphocytes within the stratum compactum. This study on the equine endometrium shows that 1) CD4-and CD8-immunopositive T cell subpopulations can also be detected in fixed tissue samples (IHC Zinc Fixative and Hope ®-fixation), 2) the IHC Zinc Fixative is an excellent method to combine the routine histopathological evaluation with the analysis of T cell subpopulations, 3) the equine endometrium is equipped with an adaptive immune defense acting against intracellular and extracellular pathogens, 4) a non-suppurative endometritis is associated with an increase in both cell populations indicative of an immune mediated pathogenesis. Further studies are necessary to characterise the lymphocyte populations in the equine endometrium and the described method will provide a powerful diagnostic tool.

ZusammenfassungGebärmutterzysten stellen einen häufigen Befund bei der gynäkologischen Untersuchung von älteren oder vorberichtlich in der Fertilität be einträchtigten Stuten dar. lhre mögliche Bedeutung liegt einerseits in ihrerSymptomatologie endometrialerZustände und andererseits in einer Beeinflussung des Spermientransportes zu den Tuben, in einer eingeschränkten Mobilität des Embryos sowie einer mechanischen Behinderung des zur Selbstreinigung der Gebärmutter notwendigen Efflux. Aus diesem Grund wurde bei 150 Stuten mit Gebärmutterzysten und vorberichtlicher Einschränkung der Fertilität eine operative Hysteroskopie durchgefüh11. Erkennbare Zysten wurden hochfrequenzchirurgisch unter Einsatz einer Polypektomleschlinge oder eines Nadelpapillotorns entfernt, lm weiteren Verlauf wurden Endometriumbiopsien entnommen. lm Anschluß an den operativen Eingriff wurden 660zä der nachkontrollierten Stuten tragend. Dennoch sollte die Behandlung aufgrund der meist zugrunde liegenden Endometrose als symptomatisch und njcht als ursächlrclr angesehen werden.Schlüsselwörter: Stute, Endometriumzysten, Hysteroskopie, Endouterine minimal invasive Chirurgie, Fruchtbarkeit Hysteroscopy and minimal invasive endouterine surgery in the mare Uterine cysts are commonly diagnosed in aged mares or mares with histories of reduced fertility. Their rncidence is primariiy symptomatic of degenerative endometrial status and may be associated with a prevention of the transport of the spernratozoa to the oviducts, with a reduced mobility of the early conceptus and with a mechanical disturbance of the uterine clearance. Hysteroscopy and transendoscopic endouterine surgery was performed under sedation in 150 mares with uterine cysts and histories of subfertility. Visible cysts were removed using electro surgery combined with a diathermic snare or a papillotorn. Endometrial biopsies were taken . After surgical procedures, 66% of the controlled mares became pregnant. Neverlheless, the treatrnenl should oe taken as symptomatically but not etiologically regarding to the frequent corresponding endometrosis, keywords:mare, endoffretrial cysts, hysteroscopy, endouterine minimal invasrve surgery, fertilily

SummaryDespite the fact that, nowadays, hysteroscopy is performed routinely, in equine gynecology, for diagnostic and minimally invasive surgical treatment, certain aspects should be considered in order to gain optimal conditions and results for the mare and for those carrying out the examination. These include thorough ascertainment of indication, careful uterine distension, choice of the correct stage of cycle and establishment of an adequate follow-up treatment and management. In order to monitor possible changes in the health of the genital tract following diagnostic hysteroscopy the clinical, microbiological (uterine swab) and pathohistological (endometrial biopsy) state of eight diestrous mares were examined before performance of a hysteroscopy, five days later and after the estrus which followed. Uterine distension was established by insufflation of filtered air. No follow-up treatment was carried out. At the outset all eight mares were clinically healthy, without evidence of pathogenic microbes in the uterine swabs or inflammatory alterations in the endometrial samples. Five days after hysteroscopy pathogenic microbes were detected in 50% of the mares (in three cases: slight amount of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in one case: moderate amount of E.coli and slight amount of β-haemolytic Streptococcus). This last mare revealed a clinically discernable endometritis. Endometrial biopsy enabled a diagnosis of moderate, acute, superficial endometritis in this mare. A further five of the eight mares developed slight acute inflammatory endometrial reaction which was only detected through pathohistology, though only two of them showed the presence of pathogenic microbes. Following the subsequent estrus all mares were clinically healthy. In two mares Pseudomonas aeruginosa persisted, the others were not contaminated with pathogenic microbes. Two further mares still showed slight, acute, inflammatory endometrial reactions. A remarkable finding in the endometrial biopsies was the striking rise in the number of eosinocytes in the superficial layers of the endometrium five days after hysteroscopy, seen in six of eight mares. After the following estrus the number of eosinocytes was still obviously elevated in four mares.A contamination rate of 50% shows that a prevention of endometrial infection is indicated after hysteroscopy, for example through the infusion of mild antiseptic solutions into the uterus. Additional induction of estrus can advance uterine clearance. Independent of intrauterine contamination, 75% of the mares showed inflammatory endometrial reactions on pathohistology. It might therefore be recommendable not to use the following estrus for insemination. The aetiology of the endometrial eosinophilia following uterine distension through insufflation of filtered air is to date unknown. A correlation between poor vulvovestibular conformation and eosinophilic infiltration of the endometrium has been established by other authors in the past and a connection here seems likely. Keywords:mare, hysteroscopy, contaminat...

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Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is the most prevalent endocrine disease in horses. Although donkeys and mules may also be affected, only a few data have been published. Reference values for diagnostic parameters, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), are especially scarce or even lacking. Therefore, in the present study, available data from the literature have been verified and completed to facilitate a reliable diagnosis. Clinical inspections and haematological and biochemical examinations were carried out four times in a three‐month interval (February to November) in 44 donkeys and 31 mules. Data from clinically healthy animals were used as an orientation. Plasma ACTH concentrations showed seasonal changes in both animal groups. However, it was generally higher in donkeys than mules. Although blood glucose (EDTA plasma) showed no difference between groups, serum insulin concentrations were consistently higher in donkeys. Serum fructosamine levels were slightly higher in mules, whereas, in some cases, serum triglyceride levels were considerably higher in donkeys. Serum gamma‐glutamyltransferase showed a striking peak in mules in August, whereas the remaining gamma‐glutamyltransferase values were lower compared to donkeys. By comparing donkeys and mules, the present work reveals differences in various blood parameters which should be considered for diagnoses and future studies.