INFLUENCE OF VULVAR HYGIENE ON CYTOLOGY OF VAGINAL SMEARS AFTER SHAM ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION IN SOWS

The description of vaginal cytology in the sow in relation to artifici al insemination (AI) has never been reported. Poor vulvar hygiene is f requently imputed as a cause for the development of endometritis after AI and could thus enhance the inflammatory response of the genital tr act. The goal of this study was to use cytology as an objective tool t o evaluate the vulvar hygiene during sham AI. Sixty-eight sows were ma tched according to their parity and week of mating and divided into 2 groups: treatment sows (CVS) had their vulva cleaned with a 1:2000 Hib itane solution and control sows (SVS) had theirs soiled with feces. Bo th groups of sows were inseminated twice with saline following this vu lvar treatment, once at detection of estrus and a 2nd time 24 hours la ter. Vestibular smears were taken before each AI, and vaginal smears w ere taken after each AI from the material present on the insemination spirette. Cytological smears were described by the predominant type of cells, namely epithelial, neutrophil, or no predominance. Results sho wed no significant differences between the 2 groups and no evolution i n the predominance of neutrophils from the 1st to the 2nd AI (P >0.05) . The pooled results from the 2 groups showed an increase in cellulari ty from the Ist to the 2nd AI (P >0.05). Neither the cellularity nor p redominant cell type in vestibular or vaginal smears from estrus sows are predictors of vulvar hygiene during sham AI (P >0.05).