[BettyBootsy]

Whats the difference between biopsy, cultures and others in check for infection and reproductive issues. And the purposes and reasoning behind it! Thank you!

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

Whats the difference between biopsy, cultures and others in check for infection and reproductive issues. And the purposes and reasoning behind it! Thank you!

A culture takes a sampling of the mucous of the uterus and grows those cells to see if there is any pathogenic presence. However, because the culture swab must pass through the vagina and the cervix, there is ALWAYS the potential for contaminants and therefore a cytology is essential to determine whether the growth found in a culture is a contaminant or actually in the uterus.

A cytology is a swab again taken of the mucous of the uterus. That swab is then rolled onto a microscope slide and stained with a hematology stain and the cells are then examined. With the cytology, you are looking for neutrophils, esonophils and other inflammatory cells. If inflammatory cells are present, it indicates that there is something irritating the uterus (a pathogen, for example) and that further diagnostics should be done, e.g., a culture should be taken and grown for pathogenic presence. If the cytology comes back negative - no neutrophils present - then it indicates if there "is" a culture growth, that it is more than likely a contaminant that was picked up when passing through the vagina and cervix. It is important that a cytology be done with every culture to avoid treating something that isn't there and further risk either introducing a pathogen into a pristine uterus or creating a pathogenic "bloom", especially a fungus.

A biopsy is where a piece of the uterine tissue is taken and examined under a microscope by a pathogen lab. The tissue is examined for the presence of inflammation as well as it's glandular structure. In the case of the equine uterus, it is usually scored with the Kenney biopsy scoring system (see below). That scoring system then provides one with an educated evaluation of the uterus, and whether or not the mare's uterus is capable of maintaining a pregancy and the chances of that mare being able to carry the foal to term Note that it is scoring the potential of the mare carrying to term, NOT her ability to conceive. Many of those mares with poor biopsy scores can be used for embryo transfers.

Kenney Biopsy Score Interpretation

Score
Description
Live Foal %
I

Essentially normal endometrium

80-90%

IIA

~ Slight-to-moderate diffuse, diffuse cellular infiltration of stratum compactum,
~ Scattered frequent inflammatory foci in stratum compactum or stratum spongiosum,
~ Frequent scattered fibrotic changes associated with individual gland branches of any degree of severity,
~ <2 fibrotic gland nests per high-powered field (avg. 4 fields),
~ Palpable lymphatic lacunae,
~ Partial endometrial atrophy late in physiological breeding season

Items listed in IIA have an additive effect and if more than one is present, the grade will be lowered to IIB

50-80%
IIB

~ Widespread, diffuse, and moderately severe foci of inflammation
~ Widespread and uniformly distributed fibrosis of individual gland branches
~ Average of 2-4 fibrotic nests per high-powered field (avg. 4 fields)

Items listed in IIB have an additive effect and if more than one is present, the grade will be lowered to III

10-50%
III

~ If more than one of the items listed in IIB is present.

<10%

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction
Check out our new semen evaluation service!

[BettyBootsy]

Thank you! Your awesome! So biopsy they can't determine infection? or hormone levels?

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

Thank you! Your awesome! So biopsy they can't determine infection? or hormone levels?

Hormone levels are checked with a blood test. We were going to do this with my mare.

The vet looked at her cervix first though and found a tear on her cervix which prevented her from carrying past 8 months so we didn't do the blood test to see if it was hormonal.

[Little Red Dun]

Very informative, Equine Repro. Thank you. I was curious as well.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

Thank you! Your awesome! So biopsy they can't determine infection? or hormone levels?

Sorry I didn't respond sooner - Breeding season is in full swing and there just aren't enough hours in the day

A biopsy will show if there is inflammation - but it won't identify an infection or what the infection is. You have to grow out a culture for that. Much like a cytology, it will identify inflammatory cells, but it will also identify other problems within the uterus so it is MUCH more definitive. And, with a biopsy, it will give you a tangible percentage of your chances of success (or failure, as the case may be). While there are certainly successful pregnancies with a IIB or III uterus, it's like gambling <grin> if you're feeling lucky, go for it, but at least you have an idea of what your odds are of winning. A biopsy cannot show you hormone levels and be aware, hormone levels change on a daily basis and in some hormones such as progesterone, it will change literally throughout the day.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction
Check out our new semen evaluation service!

[BettyBootsy]

Thanks Kathy! I'm going to haul my mare into the vet! I just want to make sure she has no infection after that geldig got a hold of her. He was dirty! My vet said that he could tell more from a biopsy then a culture! We just got her last year to late to breed and so she was left open. I like younger mares and fillies and don't have much experience with the older ones! I got her to kill 2 birds with one stone so to speak but she ended up to hot for my son. I wanted to get one foal out of her then breed her back and sell her! It appears to me that her cycles are all wacky! She seems in more then not! Thanks again!

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by BettyBootsy

It appears to me that her cycles are all wacky! She seems in more then not! Thanks again!

Not wacky...it's spring. So, she's probably transitional. Until she ovulates for the first time this year, she will appear to be in season more than she's out. Just all part of the whole process.

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
Equine Reproduction