Persistent Mating Induced Endometritis (pmie): an Emerging Reproductive Disease in the Mare – Acupuncture Interpretation and Therapy

Persistent Mating Induced Endometritis (PMIE) is a pathological condition of mares incapable of clearing the transient physiological inflammatory reaction produced in the uterus after artificial insemination. Fifty nine (59) estrus cycles of mares presenting this condition were randomly treated with Acupuncture (n=21), Oxytocin (n=25) or Placebo (n=13). The quantity of fluid was reduced in all group but Oxytocin reduced the amount of uterine fluid more than Placebo (p<0,01) and Acupuncture more than Oxytocin and Placebo (p<0,01). Both the mares treated with acupuncture and Oxytocin showed an increased pregnancy rate compared to Placebo mares tough Acupuncture showed a significant increase of the pregnancy rates compared with Oxytocin (76,2 vs 20,0%). In our study, the treatment with acupuncture was able to reduce fluid in uterus and to increase pregnancy rates more than the other two groups (p<0.01).