1. INCIDENCE AND ULTRASONIC PICTURES OF THE OVARIAN PATHOLOGY IN BUFFALOES A. Ali and A. Kh. Abdel-Razek Dept. Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt INTRODUCTION Ultrasound-technique has been widely used in the examination of the physiological conditions of the female genital tract. It provides a safe, non-invasive methods for direct visualization of ovaries, uterus and conceptus. Recently, sonography has shown to be equally efficient in the evaluation of some of the pathological conditions of the female genital tract. However, there is no previous study characterize ultrasonographically the pathological conditions of the ovaries in buffaloes. The aim of the present work was: 1- To record the incidence of the most common ovarian pathological conditions in buffalo-cows and heifers. 2- To characterize ultrasonographically the echogenic pictures of the ovarian pathological cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS -A total number of 72 living animals and 278 genital tracts of Egyptian Buffalo-cows and heifers are included in this study. -The animals were examined ultrasonographically using a transrectal 6/8 MHz linear transducer (Pie Medica, 100 LC). -The genital tracts from the abattoir were examined grossly to detect the ovarian pathological lesions. Those with special pathological findings were reexamined ultrasonographically in a water bath. RESULTS Ovarian findings of the examined 350 cases are shown in table 1. Their ultrasonic picture are illustrated in figures 1,2 and 3. DISCUSSION The ovaries and ovarian structures of buffalo-cows and heifer are clearly smaller than that of cattle (1). So, diagnoses of the ovarian findings through rectal palpation might be associated with fault diagnosis (2). However, ultrasonography has been proved to be an accurate method of visualizing of the ovarian structures in buffaloes (1). Ovarian inactivity is the most common ovarian disturbance in buffaloes. This is in agree with a previous study (3). Acyclicity in buffalo might be due to genetic, nutritional and/or climatic effects. The presence of a cystic center within the CL was recorded. However, its frequency is much little than in cattle (4). Similarly, follicle theca and follicle lutein cysts were recorded in the present work, but in a lower incidence than in cattle (5). The echogenic characteristic of ovarian abscess are illustrated for the first time in this study. The incidence of double ovulation in buffalo is comparable to that in cattle (5 ). In conclusion, the use of ultrasound to diagnose pathological ovarian structures was reported. The main benefit of using ultrasound in buffaloes was the ability to visualize structures which were confusing on palpation. Figure1: Normal ovarian structures. (A) Small and medium sized follicles. (B) Ovulatory and atretic follicles. (C) Corpus haemorrhagicum. (D) Mature corpus luteum. A B DC D CB A Figure 2: Ovarian inactivity. Different forms of small sized ovaries showing only a few number of small follicles. Figure 3: Ovarian pathology. A) Multiple follicle theca cysts. B) Follicle lutein cyst. C) Ovarian abscess and medium sized follicle. D) Double CL, one compact (ventral) and the other with central cavity (dorsal) DCBA REFRENCES 1.ALI, A. et al., 2000..Reprod. Domes. Anim., 35 (1): 26. 2. EL-WISHY, A. B. and GHONEIM, I. M. 2000. J. Egypt Vet. Med., 60, 1: 97-105. 3. FARRAG, A. 1978. M. V. Sc., Assiut University, Egypt. 4. KNOPF, L. 1990. Diss. Vet. Med., Munchen. 5. GORDON, I. 1997. Reproduction in Cattle and Buffaloes. CAB International, UK. Table1: Normal and abnormal ovarian findings and their incidence in 350 examined buffaloes Abscess c avity CL Lut. cyst Mult. theca cysts Ovary CH Follicle