Abattoir evidence on association between uterine and ovarian abnormalities in Ethiopian highland ewes

A study was conducted on 3275 non-pregnant Ethiopian highland ewes slaughtered at the Addis Ababa municipal abattoir to determine whether uterine and ovarian abnormalities were associated. Each reproductive tract was examined for the presence of ovarian cysts, ovarobursal adhesions and gross uterine abnormalities. The percentage of ewes with ovarian cysts, ovarobursal adhesions and combination of both on the same ovary was 4.3%, 7.6% and 1.7%, respectively. The percentage of uterine abnormalities in tracts with ovarian cysts, ovarobursal adhesions, combined ovarian cysts and ovarobursal adhesions and those with normal ovaries was 46.1%, 31.9%, 46.3% and 4.3%, respectively. The prevalence of uterine abnormalities including hydro/mucometra, endometritis and pyometra was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in ewes with abnormal ovarian conditions than in those with normal ovaries. Also, the prevalence of uterine abnormalities was higher (P < 0.01) in ewes with ovarian cysts than in those with ovarobursal adhesions alone while in those ewes with co-existing ovarian cysts and ovarobursal adhesions it did not differ (P > 0.05) from those with either of these ovarian conditions. Among uterine abnormalities hydro/mucometra was higher (P < 0.01) in ewes with abnormal ovaries. In both groups of ewes with and without ovarian abnormalities pyometra was the least prevalent uterine disorder. These results indicate a direct strong association between uterine and ovarian abnormalities in the Ethiopian highland ewes.