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The objective of the present study was to investigate the association among the largest follicle (LF), preovulatory estradiol (E2), and predominant vaginal epithelial cell at the completion of hormonal ovarian stimulation for fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI) in goats. Thirty‐seven crossbred Boer does received gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) and intravaginal progesterone (P4)‐releasing devices (day 0). On day 5, P4 devices were removed and does received prostaglandin F2α and equine chorionic gonadotrophin. On day 7, does received GnRH, and FTAI was undertaken. On day 7, does were divided into three groups, i.e. small‐sized (3–3.9 mm; n = 5), medium‐sized (4–4.9 mm; n = 8), and large‐sized (≥5 mm; n = 24) according to the diameter of the ovarian LF; follicular characteristics (number and diameter) were identified, and blood samples and vaginal smears were collected. The average diameters of total antral follicles and LF and the percentage of superficial cell were greatest in large‐sized LF does (p <.01). The average diameters of total antral follicle (r =.68) and LF (r =.71), number of preovulatory follicle (r =.58), and plasma E2 concentrations (r =.61) were positively correlated with the percentage of superficial cells (p <.01). The likelihood of a pregnancy outcome after the FTAI increased by 13.71 times in does with a greater average diameter of antral follicle, 14.18 times with emergence of a large preovulatory follicle, and 36.83 times with a higher percentage of vaginal superficial cells (p <.01). It was concluded that there is a relationship between the cell types of the vaginal epithelium, the diameters of the largest ovarian follicles, and the concentration of E2 in goats subjected to FTAI protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaginal cytology (VC) is an essential technique for monitoring the bitch's estrus cycle. Currently, animal‐free teaching methodologies have not been investigated for VC. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate an immersive simulation with a VC model and augmented reality tools. Students (n = 219) from four universities were enrolled, having learning stations with models for practising VC that provided immediate feedback on the technique. Augmented reality tools comprised QR codes that endorsed students to short videos of owners' avatars reporting the clinical reproductive story of the simulated animals and slides with QR codes leading to microscopy slide navigation videos. Proestrus, estrus, diestrus, anestrus and vaginitis were identified in the learning stations. The students' perceptions were evaluated through questionnaires assessing satisfaction, motivation, confidence, impact on learning and diagnostic accuracy. Before the immersive simulation, students had no experience with VC, being afraid of doing a VC with a live dog. Almost all the students considered practicing VC as essential and 94% reported that repeating the procedure (>2 times) was the most important parameter for learning. The simulation activity lasted ≈3 h and significantly improved the confidence of students, being less afraid of doing a VC in a live animal. Slide navigation videos improved the diagnostic accuracy of the estrus cycle stage, and students diagnosed the estrus and vaginitis cases more accurately. The immersive simulation strategy allowed repeated practice in a safe, motivated and standardized environment, being appraised by students as an essential strategy for learning VC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: Reports of the vaginal flora of wild cats such as lions or leopards are scarce. The micro‐organisms most commonly found in the vagina of clinically healthy cats are aerobic bacteria such as coagulase‐negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus canis, and Escherichia coli. Simonsiella spp are large Gram‐negative bacteria belonging to the Neisseriaceae family, typically found in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract of many species. To date, there are no reports of the detection of Simonsiella spp in the vaginal flora of any felid. For a period of six months, daily behaviour monitoring was performed on six captive lionesses at a South African conservation centre, in parallel with the collection of vaginal swabs and interpretation of the resultant vaginal cytologies every other day. Oestrus was identified by typical female reproductive behaviours, as well as by enlarged and separated vulvar lips, and a predominant proportion of superficial cornified cells, clearing of the background, and high bacterial presence in the vaginal smear. Simonsiella spp were identified by their characteristic morphology in 58% (60 of 103) of the vaginal samples collected during oestrus. They were also found in oral swabs of three out of three lions tested. Additionally, Simonsiella spp were opportunistically found in a vaginal smear from a zoo housed female Sri Lankan leopard in oestrus, during a routine reproduction assessment. The finding of Simonsiella spp may be more common than previously suspected, transitory, and without detectable clinical relevance. A connection between occurrence of these bacteria and oestrus was apparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]