Molecular etiopathology of naturally occurring reproductive diseases in female goats.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular etiopathology of occurrence of reproductive diseases in female goats. Reproductive diseases in goats account for major economic losses to goat farmers in terms of valuable loss of offspring and animal productivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 660 female genitalia were examined for pathological conditions (macroscopic and microscopic lesions). The etiopathological study was carried out for the presence of pathogenic organisms such as , , and in the uterus and ovary. Based on the microscopic lesions, suspected samples were subjected to diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for various etiological agents employing 16srRNA genus specific primers for and and gene-based PCR for and nested PCR using gene primers for . For suspected samples, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was also performed.

RESULTS

In studied female genitalia, 108 (16.30%) showed gross abnormalities with overall 23.32% occurrence of pathological conditions (macroscopic and microscopic lesions). Pathological involvement of the uterus was the highest 68 (62.96%), followed by the ovaries 27 (25%) and other organs. Major uterine condition observed was endometritis (5.60%). In uterine infections, 35 (5.30%) samples were found positive for spp., 12 (1.81%) samples for , and 3 (0.45%) samples were positive for spp. Among the samples positive for by PCR, 3 were found positive by IHC also. was detected by PCR using specific primers in a case of hydrosalpinx. It was concluded that many pathological lesions in female genitalia of functional significance play a major role in infertility in goats.

CONCLUSION

The present study concluded that many pathological lesions in female genitalia of functional significance play a major role in infertility in goats.