JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND VETERINARY ADVANCES, vol.8, no.7, pp.1252-1255, 2009 (SCI-Expanded)
In the present study, cytobrush (endometrial cytology) technique, vaginoscopy and transrectal ultrasonography methods were used for the diagnosis of endometritis in cows and their diagnostic values compared. The study involved 31 Brown Swiss cows aged between 4 and 6 years. The cows were chosen from infertile cows at 45-180 days of parturition. Vaginoscopically, vaginal discharge scores were +3 in 17 cows, +2 in 4 cows, +1 in 3 cows and 0 in 7 cows. Transrectal ultrasonographic examination of the cornu uteri revealed a fullness of the >= 5 cm in 15 cows, 3-5 cm in 3 cows and <= 3 cm in 13 cows. On the endometrial cytologic examination, the presence of Polymorph Nuclear Neutrophil Leucocytes (PMNLs) number >= 5% were regarded as positive for the diagnosis of endometritis. Statistically, there was no significant difference between clinical diagnostic methods and cytobrush technique (p = 0.658). This study showed that endometrial cytology could be used in cows safely and effectively for the diagnosis of the infertility particularly in cases of subclinical endometritis. Furthermore, it was showed that cytobrush technique could also be used during the follow up of the recovery.