Comparison of Vaginal Flora, Vaginal Cytology, Blood Values and Hormone Level of Cats in Different Reproductive Periods

The aim of this study was to investigate vaginal cytology, haematological and hormonal values, the presence of bacteria in the vagina, and the relationship between these findings in different reproductive periods in cats. The study consisted of 30 healthy non-geriatric female cats that had reachedto puberty. The cats were divided into 3 equal groups (each having 10 cats) as estrus, anestrus and pregnant. The vaginal samples for microbiological and cytological examination andthe blood samples for hormonal analysis and hemogram were taken at the same time. A total of 100 vaginal epithelial cells were counted from the random areas of thevaginal cytology samples on the slide. The distributions of the percentages of the counted cells according to the groups were subtracted and compared. While there was no bacterial growth in 9 (30%) animals, bacterial growth was observed in 21 (70%) animals. There were no bacterial growth in 3 (30%), 4 (40%) and 2 (20%) animals inestrus, pregnant and anestrus groups, respectively. Estradiol (E2) level (42.64 ± 10.62 pg/ml) in estrus animals was significantly higher (P<0.001) than E2 level in pregnant and an estrus animals. The progesterone (P4) level of the pregnant group (12.22±9.35 ng/ml) was higher (P<0.001) than the P4 levels of the anestrus (0.84±0.25 ng/ml) and the estrus group (0.58±0.28 ng/ml), while the P4 levels of the estrus and the anestrus groups were similar. Significant differences were detected only in MCV, MCH and MCHC, within 19 blood parameters. MCV values were found to be lower in estrus animals (45.68±3.75femtoliter) than only in pregnant (51.21±4.99femtoliter) animals (P=0.007). The difference in MCH values between the estrus group (14.37±0.84 pg) and the pregnant group (15.62 ± 1.18 pg) (P=0.003) and the difference in MCHC values between the pregnant group (30.66±1.17 g/dl) and the anestrus group (32.42±1.04 g/dl) (P<0.001) were statistically significant. The presented results may help in the planning of future studies and the comparison of the obtained values.