Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Clinical Pathology

Equine are relatively infertile when compared with other domesticated species because many mares exhibit erratic and unpredictable reproductive problems. Sixty seven straight Egyptian Arabian mares, which were reared in different governmental and private farms in Cairo and Giza, were included in this study from January 2012 to May 2014. Current study aimed to identify clinico-pathological findings in mares during normal and abnormal reproductive conditions including foal heat, regular estrus, anestrum, early pregnancy with or without embryonic loss, endometritis, failure of ovulation, and granulosa cell tumor (GCT). Oxidative/antioxidant status, serum biochemical findings (metabolites, lipogram and fertility associated trace elements), acute phase response (APR) and reproductive hormones were measured. Selected mares were subjected to clinical examination, ultrasonographic scanning and blood analyses. Results pointed towards the significant influence of reproductive statuses on some clinico-pathological serum constituents in mares. Excessive oxidant generation (NO and MDA) are demonstrated in the blood of infertile mares, especially in cases of early embryonic death (EED), anovulatory follicle (AF) and GCT. Changes among serum biochemical findings were within the normal reference intervals as established for Arabian breed. Zinc and copper recorded a significant increase in mares with EED, GCT and endometritis. Regarding APR, unlike expected, SAA did not record any acute reaction in response to various pathological conditions

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