Evaluation of endometrial echotexture and cervical cytology in cows during and after treatment of endometritis

Summary

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the endometrium by using echotexture parameters during and after treatment of endometritis with intrauterine administration of an intra ute rine antiseptic solution (Lotagen^®, 3% metacresolsulphonic acid and formaldehyde) in cows which became pregnant after treatment. Material and methods: According to the severity of endometritis 21 cows were divided into three groups: E1 (slight, n = 7), E2 (moderate, n = 8), E3 (severe, n = 6). The control group (C, n = 11) consisted of cows without endometritis that did not receive an intrauterine medication. A software (Bs200 Pro^®) was used to evaluate echotexture parameters Contrast (CON), Gradient (GR), Homogeneity (HOM), Mean Gray Level (MGL) of images taken during the examinations at hours (h) 0, 1 and 6 and days (d) 2, 3, 5 and 10. Results: At 0 h, GR was significantly lower in group E2 than in groups E1 and C (p < 0.05). There was an increase in GR values between 0 h and 10 d in group E2 and E3, but a decrease during the same time interval in group C (p < 0.05). In contrast, CON values of group E2 were lower (p < 0.05) at 0 h compared to other timepoints of examination and lower than in group C. HOM values were lower (p < 0.05) in groups E1, E2 and E3 than in group C on d 5 and d 10. HOM values were higher at 1 h compared to 6 h, d 2 and d 10 in group E3 (p < 0.05). By contrast to GR values, HOM values were higher in group C at 6 h and d 10 than they were in group E3. MGL values of group E2 were higher (p < 0.05) than in group C until d 10 and higher (p < 0.05) in group E3 than in group C at 6 h after treatment. In group E2 an increase of MGL values until d 2 was followed by a decrease (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Echotexture parameters determined by the evaluation of sonographic B-mode images reflect changes in the endometrium and could be used for the evaluation of the recovery period after treatment of endometritis.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel der Studie war, nach intrauteriner Verabreichung der antiseptischen Lösung Lotagen^® (Metacresolsulfonsäure und Formaldehyd) bei Kühen, die nach Behandlung trächtig wurden, die Endometriumveränderungen mittels Echotexturanalyse zu beurteilen. Material und Metho dik: 21 Kühe wurden drei Gruppen zugeteilt: geringgradige (E1, n = 7), moderate (E2, n = 8) und hochgradige Endometritis (E3, n = 6). Die Kontrollgruppe (C, n = 11) umfasste gesunde, unbehandelte Tiere ohne Endometritis. Mit einem computergestützten Bildanalyseprogramm wurden an sonographischen Endometriumbildern (B-Modus) die Echostrukturparameter Kontrast (CON), Gradient (GR), Homogenität (HOM) und mittlere Graustufe (MGL) unmittelbar vor (0 h), 1 h, 6 h und 2, 3, 5 und 10 Tage nach der Behandlung analysiert. Ergebnisse: Zum Zeitpunkt (ZP) 0 h lag GR in Gruppe E2 niedriger (p < 0,05) als in Gruppe E1 und C. In Gruppe E2 und E3 stieg GR zwischen 0 h und 10 d, in Gruppe C nahm GR im selben Zeitraum ab (p < 0,05). Umgekehrt waren CON der Gruppe E2 zum ZP 0 h deutlich niedriger als an den folgenden ZP und niedriger als in Gruppe C (p < 0,05). Auch in Gruppe E3 war CON am Tag 10 höher als in Gruppe C (p < 0,05). HOM war an Tag 5 und 10 in den Gruppen E1, E2 und E3 niedriger (p < 0,05) als in Gruppe C. In Gruppe E2 sank HOM bis zum 5. Tag nach Behandlung ab (p < 0,05). Ferner war HOM in Gruppe E3 an den ZP 6 h, d 2 und d 10 höher als zum ZP 0 h (p < 0,05). Im Gegensatz zu GR wiesen Kontrolltiere an den ZP 6 h und d 10 höhere HOM-Werte auf als E3-Kühe. Die MGL-Werte der E2-Kühe überschritten die der Kontrolltiere bis zum Tag 10 (p < 0,05). Für Gruppe E3 galt dies für den ZP 6 h (p < 0,05). Bei E2-Tieren stieg MGL bis zum 2. Tag an und fiel dann ab (p < 0,05). Schlussfolgerung: Die Echostrukturparameter spiegeln die Veränderungen im Endometrium wider und können zur Beurteilung des Heilungsverlauf nach Endometritisbehandlung dienen.

Key words

Cow - endometritis - echotexture - treatment

Schlüsselwörter

Kuh - Endometritis - Echotextur - Behandlung

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