Dissertation Rodenbusch_20052011 ohne Lebenslauf

SUMMARY
To assess the influence of endometrial findings on fertility endometrial biopsies of 15 clinically
healthy, fertile cows were examined histologically and their endometrial findings were compared to
those in sub- and infertile cows and heifers. It could be shown that moderate or severe endometritis
and endometrosis is significantly more frequently in sub- or infertile than in fertile cows. Furthermore,
sub- or infertile cows reveal significantly more often destroying endometrosis than fertile
cows. Therefore, it has to be hypothesized that endometritis as well as bovine endometrosis have a
negative effect on fertility depending on their degree and character.
Endometrial biopsies of 58 sub- and infertile cows and heifers taken prior to slaughter were examined
histologically, and findings were compared anonymously to post mortem diagnoses. By means
of these data it should be investigated if endometrial biopsy is a potential tool for the diagnosis of
endometrial alterations in cattle, not detectable by conventional methods. Two endometrial biopsies
with a size of 5-10 x 3 x 3 mm were taken next to the uterine bifurcation from each of 58 animals.
Concerning the degree of inflammatory and degenerative alterations, in 86% and 93% of cases,
respectively, a complete or far ranging conformity in diagnosis between endometrial biopsy and
uterine examination after slaughter was shown. The character of endometritis in endometrial biopsy
accorded to post mortem diagnosis in 64%, the character of endometrosis in 66% of all cases.
Presented data indicate that the majority of female cattle with fertility disturbances reveals subclinical
endometrial alterations (subclinical endometritis, bovine endometrosis and angiosclerosis) not
detectable by conventional clinical methods including ultrasonography and cytology but detectable
histopathologically. The endometrial biopsy delivers representative information about the actual
endometrial status and is a potential tool for the intra vitam diagnosis of such endometrial alterations
in cattle not detectable by conventional clinical methods. Nevertheless, in order to establish
the potential diagnostic tool “endometrial biopsy” in buiatrics as a prognostical meaningful method,
further investigations, especially concerning the different types of bovine endometrosis, are necessary.
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