Infertility in Cattle
B) Pathological affections of fallopian tubes:
- Mostly cause infertility by repeat breeding.
- Common in the cow than in the mare due to the direction of genitalia, and the utero-tubal junction is guarded by muscular papillae in the mare.
- Affections of the fallopian tubes are caused by:
-- Ascending infection from the uterus.
-- Bad massage of the ovary.
-- Tuberculosis of the oviduct.
- The pathological affections of oviducts are:
1- Endo-salpingitis:
- Inflammation of the oviducts without significant enlargement.
- It is usually bilateral and cannot be detected rectally.
2- Interstitial salpingitis:
- Catarrhal exudates collect in the lumen.
- The mucosal folds have cellular infiltration.
- Changes in the whole wall of the tube.
- The tube is pencil-like and very hard.
3- Hydrosalpinx:
- Accumulation of fluid in the fallopian tube.
- It may be unilateral or bilateral.
- It is a sign of the white heifer disease.
4- Pyosalpinx:
- Pus is present in the fallopian tube and obstructs its lumen.
- The pus is doughy, and the wall is thick.
- It usually follows severe uterine infection and associated with severe adhesions
of the mesosalpinx and mesovarium.
- Diagnosis of the pathological effects of the oviducts depends on:
-- History of repeat breeding,
-- Positive rectal examination.
-- Some diagnostic tests:
* Rubin's insufflation technique: Carbon dioxide is passed into the uterus under pressure of 60 - 100 mmHg. If the oviducts are normal, the pressure gradually falls to 40 - 60 mmHg.
* Starch test: About 30 gm starch in 500 ml distilled water is injected intraperitoneally. Vaginal mucous smears are tested by diluted iodine solution (one-part Lugol to 50 parts water) at 12 - 24 hours intervals for 2 - 4 days. The blue color indicates patent one or both oviducts.
- Prognosis is poor and treatment is unfavorable or not satisfactory.
- Treat pyometra or endometritis.
- Carbon dioxide insufflation may break down adhesion.
- Intramuscular and intrauterine antibiotics are helpful.