Ultrasonographic size and characteristics of reproductive organs of repeat breeder buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Use of ultrasonography in bovines has been exploited as a valuable aid to understand various reproductive aspects of research and academic interest. The reproductive organs of 18 normal cycling (group 1) and 10 repeat breeder (group 2) buffaloes of varied parity were scanned at the time of estrus to compare the size and to visualize any abnormality in genitalia. The mean size of cervix, uterine body, right uterine horn, left uterine horn, right ovary and left ovary of repeat breeder buffaloes (group 2) were comparable to that in normal cycling buffaloes (group 1). Group 2 buffaloes were suffering either from endometritis (n=5) or ovaro-bursal adhesions (n=4) or cervical fibrosis (n=l) detected by rectal palpation and ultrasonography. Ultrasonographically, at estrus, normal tubular genitalia of buffaloes in both the groups appeared as the heterogenous grey shades reflecting edema around the non-echogenic (black) central area of lumen. Ultrasonography was able to detect the presence of pus flakes and tissue debris as hyperechoic shades within the non-echoic lumen of tubular genitalia in endometritic buffaloes. Ovaro-bursal adhesions were visualized as hyperechoic band like structure around the ovary. Fibrosed mass of cervix was revealed by ultrasonography as a hyperechoic (white) irregular structure around constructed non-echoic central lumen. The ultrasonography is, therefore, advantageous to visualize the abnormal conditions like endometritis, ovaro-bursal adhesion and cervical fibrosis, which impair the cyclicity and fertility of buffaloes.