Diagnosis and treatment of endometritis in the mare. Review article

Endometritis in the mare is generally classified into two groups which are the followings: endometritis catarrhalis acuta and endometritis catarrhalis chronica. Recently endometritis caused by multifactorial factors are group ed into four groups: venereal endometritis (sexually transmitted endometrit is), persistent mating-induced endometritis, chronic endometritis and endom etrial periglandular fibrosis (formerly termed chronic degenerative endomet ritis. Etiology, clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of endometritis are discussed in detail The importance of venereal endometritis (contagiou s equine metritis - CEM) is underlined because until recently it has not be en described in Hungary. At the same time the working group isolated Bacter oides ureolyticus strains from the clitorial fossa of mares with vaginal di scharge which strains closely resembled Taylorella equigenitalis. The two s pecies can be differentiated because R ureolyticus strains produce urease a nd cannot tolerate 10% oxigene, while T equigenitalis strains are both urea negative and able to tolerate oxigene. The correct identification of the a etiologic agent is of special importance, because CEM needs special control measures and restrictions have to be introduced in order to prevent the sp read of the disease, whereas infections due to anaerobes do not involve suc h consequences.