COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE CYTOLOGIC AND MICROBIOLOGIC EXAMINATIONS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EQUINE ENDOMETRITIS

To perform the microbiological examination the material from the swabs were seeded onto agar containing 8% (v/v) defibrinated sheep blood and Levine agar. The cytological examination samples were collected using a plastic-fronded brush and the smears were prepared on a slide and stained with Giemsa method. From the 25 mares studied nine of them (36.0%) were negative for the microbiological exam and 16 (64.0%) were positive. Among the 16 ones positive for the microbiological examination, four of them (25.0%) showed an inflammatory response to the cytological exam. The correlation value for the microbiological and the cytological exams was K=0.058, representing a weak correlation between them. The results from the microbiological exams need to be evaluated cautiously in order to avoid false-positive results, which could lead to an unnecessary antibiotic therapy.Original Abstract: Para o exame microbiologico o swab foi semeado em agar base acrescido de 8% (v/v) de sangue ovino desfibrinado e agar Levine. A colheita de material para o exame citologico uterino foi realizada com auxilio de escova ginecologica, em seguida realizaram-se esfregacos do material obtido em laminas que foram coradas pelas tecnicas de Giemsa. Das 25 eguas estudadas nove (36,0%) foram negativas ao exame microbiologico e 16 (64,0%) positivas. Dentre as amostras positivas ao exame microbiologico, observou-se reacao inflamatoria ao exame citologico em quatro (25,0%). O valor de concordancia entre o exame microbiologico e citologico foi K=0,058, demonstrando uma concordancia fraca. Os resultados do exame microbiologico devem ser interpretados com cautela para evitar resultados falso positivos que coloquem em risco a integridade da mucosa uterina devido a utilizacao de antibioticoterapia desnecessaria.