Changes

=Introduction=

==Introduction==

Endometritis is an '''infection of the uterine endometrium''' [[Image:Endometritis.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Endometritis,Copyright RVC 2008]]

Endometritis is an '''infection of the uterine endometrium''' [[Image:Endometritis.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Endometritis,Copyright RVC 2008]]

Endometritis is a common cause of '''poor fertility''' in the mare. It occurs following '''uterine contamination''' during '''covering''', [[Artificial Insemination - Anatomy & Physiology|artificial insemination]], '''reproductive examination''', [[Parturition Behaviour - Mare|'''parturition''']] and as a result of '''poor conformation'''.

Endometritis is a common cause of '''poor fertility''' in the mare. It occurs following '''uterine contamination''' during '''covering''', [[Artificial Insemination - Anatomy & Physiology|artificial insemination]], '''reproductive examination''', '''parturition''' and as a result of '''poor conformation'''.

==Types of Endometritis==

==Types of Endometritis==

(1) Venereal Infectious Endometritis

#Venereal Infectious Endometritis

 

#Non-venereal Infectious Endometritis

(2) Non-venereal Infectious Endometritis

#Persistent Post-mating Endometritis

 

#Chronic Degenerative Endometritis

(3) Persistent Post-mating Endometritis

#Chronic Infectious Endometritis  

 

(4) Chronic Degenerative Endometritis

 

(5) Chronic Infectious Endometritis  

===Venereal Infectious Endometritis===

===Venereal Infectious Endometritis===

[[Equine Viral Arteritis|Equine Viral Arteritis]] (EAV) and [[Equine Herpesvirus 3|Equine Herpes Virus 3]] (EHV-3) are also classified as venereal infections however they do not cause endometritis or prevent conception.

[[Equine Viral Arteritis|Equine Viral Arteritis]] (EAV) and [[Equine Herpesvirus 3|Equine Herpes Virus 3]] (EHV-3) are also classified as venereal infections however they do not cause endometritis or prevent conception.

Detailed guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all these infections can be found in the [http://codes.hblb.org.uk/| Codes of Practise] which are followed by Thoroughbred breeders in the UK.  

Detailed guidelines on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all these infections can be found in the [http://codes.hblb.org.uk/|Codes of Practise] which are followed by Thoroughbred breeders in the UK.  

===Non-venereal Infectious Endometritis===

===Non-venereal Infectious Endometritis===

===Chronic Infectious Endometritis===

===Chronic Infectious Endometritis===

Normally an underlying '''conformational condition''' such as '''pneumovagina''' predisposes the mare to chronic infectious endometritis. Definitive diagnosis is again by '''biopsy''' which should show '''infiltration of the endometrium with lymphocytes and plasma cells'''. Infection may be:

Normally an underlying '''conformational condition''' such as [[Pneumovagina - Horses|'''pneumovagina''']] predisposes the mare to chronic infectious endometritis. Definitive diagnosis is again by '''biopsy''' which should show '''infiltration of the endometrium with [[lymphocytes]] and [[Plasma Cells|plasma cells]]'''. Infection may be:

* Bacterial - [[Streptococcus zooepidemicus|''Streptococcus zooepidemicus'']], [[Escherichia coli|''Escherichia coli'']]

* Bacterial - [[Streptococcus zooepidemicus|''Streptococcus zooepidemicus'']], [[Escherichia coli|''Escherichia coli'']]

* Fungal  - more common if there is a history of multiply intra-uterine antibiotic treaments

* Fungal  - more common if there is a history of multiply intra-uterine antibiotic treatments

Prognosis is '''guarded''' due to the chronic nature of the infection and the anatomical faults predisposing to infection. '''Surgical correction''' of the conformational abnormalities may be attempted using Caslicks procedure.

Prognosis is '''guarded''' due to the chronic nature of the infection and the anatomical faults predisposing to infection. '''Surgical correction''' of the conformational abnormalities may be attempted using Caslicks procedure.