DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES IN MARE REPRODUCTION - HORMONAL EVALUATION AND GENETIC TESTING

This is the third and final article of a three-part Continuing Educati on Series on reproductive: diagnostics in mares. Hormonal evaluation a nd genetic testing are procedures that should be: performed on mares t hat are presented with infertility that has not been diagnosed by-mean s::: of previous testing. In addition to making a diagnosis; veterinar ians :may decide to pursue fur-ther tests in order to confirm previous findings, to determine a prognosis, or to select therapeutic options. The first article in the series discussed basic reproductive evaluati on in mares, : : including external conformation evaluation. palpation of internal genitalia per rectum, ultrasonography of the reproductive tract, vaginoscopy, and manual vaginal/cervical/uterine examination n ation. The second article considered uterine culture, cytology, and bi opsy, hysteroscopy; oviductal patency testing; and scintigraphy; Sampl e collection for hormonal evaluation and genetic testing involves proc edures:that veterinarians can perform in-their-practices. Inhibin,: eq uine chorionic gonadotropin, estrone sulfate, progesterone estradiol, and testosterone are the hormones of interest in reproductive diagnost ics in mares. At various laboratories, multiple hormonal packages and single assays are available to practitioners. Genetic testing should b e performed when the cause of infertility is unresolved. XO: :and:64,X Y gonadal dysgenesis are among the most common genetic disorders that result in infertility rn mares..