[Pathomorphology und microbiology of the urogenital tract of reproductively failed sows with positive deoxynivalenol result]. / Pathomorphologie und Mikrobiologie des Urogenitaltrakts fruchtbarkeitsgestörter Sauen mit positivem Deoxynivalenol-Befund.

OBJECTIVE: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi of Fusarium spp. It causes vomiting, but also exerts immunosuppressive effects that may be seen at local level e. g. the urogenital tract, in which case these effects are of relevance for fertility. The presented report describes a DON-associated pathomorphological picture of the urogenital tract in conjunction with the associated microbiological colonization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 19 genital tracts (vagina, cervix, uterus, oviducts and ovaries) including the urinary bladder (n = 15) from reproductively failed gilts and different parity sows submitted from 8 farms in 2019/20 were examined pathomorphologically. DON as well as zearalenone (ZEA) were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography in 11 individual and 2 pooled (2 and 4 animals, respectively) bile samples. Microbiologic examinations of uterine (n = 17) and bladder (n = 12) specimens were additionally performed. RESULTS: Nearly all vaginas (n = 16), cervixes (n = 15), uteri (n = 18) and numerous oviducts (n = 11) as well as urinary bladders (n = 11) displayed a mostly medium to severe chronical inflammation. In 17 cases, ≥ 2 organs were affected. Microbiologic evaluation revealed a usually mixed flora of several gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species with E. coli, Streptococcus spp., Aeromonas spp. and Enterococcus spp. being the predominant species. A total of 8 individual and both pooled bile samples were found DON-positive (75.5 to > 200.0 µg/l). In a subset of the DON-positive samples, ZEA was simultaneously detected at low concentrations (6.57-21.20 µg/l). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of the present study allow for the postulation that DON may cause fertility problems. Subsequent pathomorphological examinations of genital organs and the urinary bladder are recommended. When ≥ 2 organs are chronically inflamed and the uteri are additionally microbiologically positive, a contribution of DON may be assumed and confirmation via bile analysis is warranted.

Feasibility of transabdominal Doppler ultrasonography for studying ovarian blood flow characteristics in cycling gilts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess ovarian blood flow characteristics by applying transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography during the course of the estrous cycle in gilts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Estrus and ovulation were synchronized in 15 pubertal gilts. During their consecutive spontaneous estrous cycle the gilts were sonographically scanned daily and ovarian blood flow was determined by imaging perfused areas of the ovarian hilus and the ovarian tissue. Recorded video clips were then analyzed for the parameters perfused area (Amix), blood flow velocity (vmix) as well as resistance (RIvmix) and pulsatility index (PIvmix) using the software PixelFlux®. RESULTS: All blood flow parameters showed an estrous cycle dependent course, with Amix and vmix being highest in diestrus, followed by proestrus, while RIvmix and PIvmix patterns were inversely proportional. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography proved feasible to study ovarian perfusion characteristics in pubertal gilts. The ovarian blood flow was dependent on the stage of estrous cycle and highest in diestrus. The results of this study encourage the use of color Doppler ultrasonography to also investigate reasons of ovary-caused infertility including corpus luteum insufficiency or seasonal effects on ovary function.

Feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography for studying uterine blood flow characteristics in cycling gilts.

OBJECTIVE: To test for the feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography (color, power, pulse wave) to define uterine perfusion characteristics throughout the estrous cycle in gilts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 gilts were synchronized for estrus and scanned in their following spontaneous cycle while being restrained in a purpose-designed mobile crate. To define uterine perfusion characteristics, vessels in between and within uterine cross-sections were imaged and recorded as video sequences to be analyzed by PixelFlux® software for perfused area (Amix), blood flow velocity (vmix) and intensity (Imix) as well as resistance (RIvmix) and pulsatility index (PIvmix). RESULTS: Color Doppler sonography proved to be the only feasible technique, as it was less affected by animal movements than power and pulse wave sonography. As determined by color Doppler sonography, all five parameters determined showed specific patterns through the estrous cycle, i. e. Amix, vmix, Imix were high in proestrus, decreased in estrus and remained low in midestrus and most parts of diestrus; RIvmix and PIvmix with inversely paralleled patterns. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study has demonstrated that transabdominal color Doppler but not power and pulse wave Doppler sonography is feasible to be performed in crate-restrained gilts for studying uterine perfusion characteristics during the estrous cycle, and that changes of uterine perfusion over the course of the estrous cycle can be clearly followed by color Doppler sonography. Results encourage the use of color Doppler sonography for studying i. e. uterine capacity or uterus related infertility such as for cases of clinically unapparent endometritis.