Pathology of the equine salpinx

Abstract

Equine uterine tubes were evaluated macroscopically (n=100) and microscopically (n=76). Macroscopic lesions occurred as infundibular adhesions and infundibular cysts. Microscopically, the most common findings were intraepithelial cysts within the ampulla, slight, multifocal epithelial and subepithelial infiltration with lymphocytes and the occurrence of collagen masses within the lumen of the ampullary-isthmic junction. In the majority of the uterine tubes epithelial cells showed an extraordinary coexpression of desmin and cytokeratin. The pathological significance of this coexpression is questionable and might be attributed to the physiologic hormonal activity during cycle and pregnancy respectively. For the first time chlamydial antigen was demonstrated in the equine salpinx by means of an immunohistologic technique. In five of twenty mares a positive staining for Chlamydia psittaci-antibody was evident in some epithelial cells of the isthmus and to a lesser extent in those of the ampulla. These mares showed a multifocal cytoplasmic eosinophilia of the uterine tube epithelium and a slight to moderate endometrosis of the endometrium. In two mares detection of chlamydial antigen was associated with a slight chronic salpingitis and in two other mares with a slight chronic endometritis.