Relationship between the background of spread bovine cervical-vaginal mucus characteristics and uterine sanitary status
The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the type of cervical-vaginal mucus (MCV), the characteristics of the smear background, and uterine health status. A total of 146 Holando Argentino cows were classified into three groups based on gynaecological exami...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
| Publicado: |
Universidad Nacional del Nordeste
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unne.edu.ar/index.php/vet/article/view/8083 |
| Aporte de: |
| Sumario: | The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the type of cervical-vaginal mucus (MCV), the characteristics of the smear background, and uterine health status. A total of 146 Holando Argentino cows were classified into three groups based on gynaecological examination and cytobrush results: clinical endometritis (EC), subclinical endometritis (ES), and healthy uterine status (S). For smear background analysis, a drop of MCV was placed on a slide, allowed to dry until crystallization, and observed under an optical microscope. The background was classified as clean (L) or dirty (SU) based on the presence or absence of debris, epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells. Normal flow was categorized as transparent or cloudy. Data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad® Prism 5 software. Parametric and non-parametric tests were applied, along with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio. In the healthy group, 85% of the samples showed a clean background and 15% a dirty background. In the ES group, 42% had a clean background and 58% a dirty background, while in the EC group, 7% exhibited a clean background and 93% a dirty background. The smear background reading test, applied as a diagnostic technique, demonstrated high specificity (93%) and sensitivity (85%) for EC, and high specificity (85%) but low sensitivity (58%) for ES. An association was found between smear background types and uterine status, with dirty backgrounds correlating with MCV samples from cows with endometritis and a higher percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in endometrial cytology samples. Transparent discharge was associated with a clean smear background, while cloudy discharge was linked to a dirty background. In conclusion, MCV smear background reading is a rapid, simple, and cost-effective technique that could be used in the field to assess uterine health in female cattle. |
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