Histopathological study of endometritis in slaughtered buffaloes

The present study was designed to investigate histopathological changes of endometritis in 110 slaughtered buffaloes from local abattoir in Junagadh (Gujarat). Grossly, 44 genitalia exhibited thickening of uterine wall and presence of varying degree of mucopurulent/purulent exudate noted in 18 uterine samples. Histopathologically, the lesions observed were acute, subacute and chronic changes in 25.45 percent, 20.90 percent and 34.55 percent respectively. Acute endometritis was characterized by severe congestion along with marked stromal edema, degenerative changes and focal denudation of luminal epithelium, focal hemorrhage in sub epithelial zone, infiltration of inflammatory cells predominantly polymorphonuclear cells and mononuclear cells in lamina propria, infiltration of mononuclear cells in glandular lumina and peri-endometrial glands. Subacute endometritis consisted of denudation of luminal epithelium, congestion, stromal edema and Focal haemorrhagic spot, infiltration of mononuclear cells in lamina propria, glandular lumina and around atrophied endometrial gland, glandular dilation, hyperplasiaof mucosal epithelium, atrophy of endometrial glands and thickening of blood vessels. The main features of chronic endometritis were desquamation of mucosal epithelium, infiltration of mononuclear cells and plasma cells in sub epithelial zone, dilatation of endometrial glands with degenerative changes, infiltration of mononuclear cells in glandular lumina and periglandular region with narrowing of glandular lumina, perivascular and periglandular fibrosis leading to severe thickening of blood vessels resulting in narrowing of their lumina and transformation of endometrial epithelial cells into low cuboidal against the normal columnar epithelium. Beside the above histopathological lesions three uterine samples revealed adenomyosis and twenty two genitalia showed metritis.