PhD in Veterinary Sciences for Animal Health and Food Safety

Contacts

Supervisor

Leila Vincenti

Research activities

New insights into the diagnosis and treatment of endometritis in the mare

Equine endometritis has been ranked as the third most common medical problem of adult horses and it is the main causes for infertility in mares (Traub-Dargatz et al. 1991). Infectious endometritis is observed in up to 60% of barren mares and results in reduced pregnancy rates and economic losses (LeBlanc & Causey 2009). The traditional approach to diagnosis of endometritis is via bacterial culture from the uterus, but, with the recent developments in metagenomic sequencing, it has been demonstrated that in the uterus there are complex microbial populations of bacterial organisms that can’t be find in the laboratory. The uterine microbiota of women and cows suffering from endometritis differs from that of healthy females, suggesting that endometritis is associated with microbiome dysbiosis (Canisso et al. 2020). Furthermore, considering the increase of the antibiotic resistance phenomenon, a non-traditional therapy, like ozone, thanks to its proved antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant, and angiogenetic properties is representing an important field of research in the treatment of mare’s subfertility. Finally, considering that many factors are involved in equine infertility, investigation on new potential sexual-transmitted pathogens, like Equine Papillomavirus, could be useful.

 

Preliminary results:

The endometrial microbiome of healthy mares is composed, at genus level, by Staphylococcus (8%), Acinetobacter (6,3%), Sphyngomonas (5,7%), Corynebacterium (5,6%), Streptococcus (5,5%), Rikenellacea (3,5%), Clostridium (3,2%), Pseudomonas (2,5%). Therefore, even in the healthy mare, it is composed of genera normally considered pathological according to classical culture techniques. Furthermore, an increase in alpha diversity was observed during estrus compared to diestrus.

The microbiome of mares with endometritis, on the other hand, is in a state of dysbiosis, dominated by few pathogenic genera (Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella) and is less diverse than in healthy mares. The antibiotic treatment was able to restore a more diverse microbiome.

Regarding ozone treatment, a trial performed using Riger Spray (commercial ozone foam) in 24 subfertile mares was conducted. The treatment caused a transient inflammation, but it did not cause chronic inflammatory changes in the endometrium and 81,3% (13/16) of the mares recovered fertility. A lower, but not statistically significant (p=0.07) number of insemination was required to obtain pregnancy. Therefore it proved to be a safe treatment in the mare but further studies are necessary to prove its efficacy.

The antimicrobial properties of different ozone preparations were evaluated in vitro against bacteria responsible for endometritis. Both gaseous ozone and ozonated oil showed potent antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Regarding the detection of Equus Caballus Papillomavirus Type-2, 40.2% of the mares resulted in being positive and we observed a significantly higher EcPV2 genoprevalence in pluriparous vs maiden, in mares subjected to natural mating vs artificial insemination and in barren subfertile mares vs pregnant mares. Furthermore, EcPV9 and 10 were described for the first time in the mare.

Bibliography:

1. Canisso I, Segabinazzi L e Fedorka C (2020). Persistent breeding-induced endometritis in mares – a multifaceted challenge: From clinical aspects to immunopathogenesis and pathobiology. In International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21(4).
2. Leblanc M e Causey R (2009). Clinical and Subclinical Endometritis in the Mare: Both Threats to Fertility. In Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44(3): 10-22.
3. Traub-Dargatz J, Salman L e Voss J (1991). Medical problems of adult horses, as ranked by equine practitioners. In Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 198(10): 1745-7.

 

Research products:

• articles journals with impact factor

Donato GG, Appino S, Bertero A, Poletto ML, Nebbia P, Robino P, et al. Safety and Effects of a Commercial Ozone Foam Preparation on Endometrial Environment and Fertility of Mares. J Equine Vet Sci 2023;121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104222.

Donato GG, Necchi D, Vandaele H, Vita ME, Bertero A, Vincenti L, Nervo T. Influence of Intrauterine Fluid Detection, Number of Transfers and Age of the Recipient on Pregnancy Rate and Early Embryonic Loss in a Commercial Embryo Transfer Program. Animals. 2023; 13(11):1799. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111799

Nervo T, Bertero A, Ponzio P, Julita E, Poletto ML, Donato GG. Testing mammary gland secretions to predict foaling in jennies. Ital J Anim Sci 2023; 22:35–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2022.2157764.

Turco S, Gabbianelli F, Mavian CN, Pietrucci D, De Paolis L, Gialletti R, Mechelli L, De Ciucis CG, Cappelli K, Dell’Anno F, Mecocci S, Donato GG et al. Genetic Characterization of a Novel Equus caballus Papillomavirus Isolated from a Thoroughbred Mare. Viruses. 2023; 15(3):650. https://doi.org/10.3390/v15030650

Cappelli K, Ciucis CG De, Mecocci S, Nervo T, Crescio MI, Pepe M, Gialletti R, Pietrucci D, Migone LF, Turco S, Mechelli L, Passamonti F, Drago C, Donato GG, et al. Detection of Equus Caballus Papillomavirus Type-2 in Asymptomatic Italian Horses. Viruses 2022;14. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14081696

De Paolis L, De Ciucis CG, Peletto S, Cappelli K, Mecocci S, Nervo T, Guardone L, Crescio MI, Pietrucci D, Fruscione F, Gabbianelli F, Turco S, Varello K, Donato GG, et al. Equus caballus Papillomavirus Type-9 (EcPV9): First Detection in Asymptomatic Italian Horses. Viruses 2022;14. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14092050.

Nervo T, Bertero A, Donato GG, Panier Suffat E, Vincenti L. Analysis of factors influencing the transfer of passive immunity in the donkey foal. Ital J Anim Sci 2021; 20:1, 1947-1956. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.1963863

Alkhawagah AR, Ricci A, Banchi P, Martino NA, Poletto ML, Donato GG, Nervo T, Vincenti L. Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) on Cryopreserved Piedmontese Bull Semen Characteristics. Animals. 2022; 12(22):3179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223179

• articles on journals without impact factor

Donato GG, Nervo T. L’Endometrite equina. Il Trottatore 2021, Ottobre/Dicembre, 50-51.

Donato GG, Nervo T, Stella MC, Nebbia P, Scalas D, Poletto ML, Romano G, Robino P. Terapie alternative in riproduzione equina: valutazione in vitro delle proprietà antimicrobiche dell’ozono verso batteri responsabili di endometrite infettiva nella cavalla. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2023,2.

Donato GG, Necchi D, Vandaele H, Vita ME, Bertero A, Vincenti L, Nervo T. Influenza del fluido intrauterino, del numero di transfer, e dell’età della ricevente sul tasso di gravidanza in un programma commerciale di embryo transfer. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2023,3.

Donato GG, Nervo T. L’Embryo Transfer nella specie equina. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2021, 1.

Nervo T, Donato GG, Zambon L, Poletto ML. L’impatto dell’aborto sull’allevamento equino. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2023, 1.

Nervo T, Poletto ML, Blundetto S, Julita E, Donato GG. Influenza della monta naturale assistita o dell’inseminazione artificiale sui livelli di cortisolo salivare nella cavalla. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2022,1

Poletto ML, Nervo T, Donato GG, Bozzetta E, Varello K, Appino S. Utilizzo ozonidi in medicina veterinaria e loro effetto sull’endometrio equino: studio preliminare. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2021,3

Nervo T, Donato GG, Poletto ML, Bertuglia A, Bronzini F, Razzuoli E. Genoprevalenza di ECPV2 in fattrici residenti in provincia di Torino, Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2022, 2

Nervo T, Poletto ML, Vicario M, Donato GG. Il sessaggio fetale ecografico negli equini. Veterinaria Pratica Equina 2022, 3

• abstracts of international congress

Donato GG, Nervo T, Stella MC, Nebbia P, Romano G, Necchi D, Bergamini L, Poletto ML, Scalas D, Robino P. In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial effect of ozone against bacteria responsible for equine endometritis 2023, Young Scientist Competition. Reprod Dom Anim, 58: 203. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14441

Donato GG, Necchi D, Bertero A, Vincenti L, Nervo T. Relationship between intrauterine fluid detection in the recipient mare and pregnancy rate in a commercial embryo transfer program. 28° SIVE International Congress, Venezia 3-4 febbraio 2023.

Nervo T, Poletto ML, Donato GG, Bertero A, Bergamini L, Elkhawagah A. Effects of post-freezing addition of relaxin on the fertility parameters of equine semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 113 (2022) 9 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103967

• abstracts of national congresses

Donato GG, Nervo T, Stella MC, Nebbia P, Romano G, Necchi D, Poletto ML, Scalas D, Robino P; The in vitro effect of different ozone preparations against bacteria responsible for equine endometritis. 76° Congresso SISVET, Bari 21-23 Giugno.

Malledevarahalli Chandrappa S, Donato GG, Alkhawagah A, Meineri G, Vincenti L, Ricci A. Evaluation of the effect of oxidative stress on uterine pathologies in postpartum dairy cows. 75° Convegno SISVET, 15-18 June 2022.

De Paolis L, De Ciucis M, Cappelli K, Mecocci S, Nervo T, Guardone L, Crescio MI, Fruscione F, Donato GG, Maurella C, Modesto P, Ghelardi A, Elisabetta Razzuoli. First detection of equus caballus papillomavirus type-9 (ecpv9) in asymptomatic italian horses. 75° Convegno SISVET, 15-18 June 2022.

De Paolis L, De Ciucis CG, Cappelli K, Mecocci S, Nervo T, Crescio MI, Pepe M, Gialletti R, Migone L, Mechelli L, Donato GG, Varello K, Modesto P, Ghelardi A, Razzuoli E. Evaluation of Ecpv2 prevalence in Italy. 75° Convegno SISVET, 15-18 June 2022.

Donato GG, Nervo T, Bertero A, Varello K, Ponzio P, Bozzetta E, Appino S. Effects of treatment with ozonides and Salix caprea bud-extract on equine endometrium. 74° Convegno SISVET, 23-26 June 2021

Martino NA, Avino A, Donato GG, Ricci A, Starvaggi Cucuzza A, Vincenti L.Production of bovine embryos using cysteamine-treated cryopreserved bull semen: an in vitro comparative study. 74° Convegno SISVET, 23-26 June 2021

Cappelli K, Nervo T, Pepe M, Gialletti R, Mecocci S, Migone L, Mechelli L, De Ciucis C, Donato GG, Modesto P, Ghelardi A, Razzuoli E. Prevalence of EcPV-2 in asyntomatic Italian horses. 74° Convegno SISVET, 23-26 June 2021