Safety and Effects of a Commercial Ozone Foam Preparation on Endometrial Environment and Fertility of Mares.
Authors: Donato Gian Guido, Appino Simonetta, Bertero Alessia, Poletto Mariagrazia Lucia, Nebbia Patrizia, Robino Patrizia, Varello Katia, Bozzetta Elena, Vincenti Leila, Nervo Tiziana
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Subfertility in mares remains a significant challenge in equine practice, with endometritis—both clinical and subcellular—substantially compromising reproductive success. This Italian research team investigated whether a commercial ozone foam preparation (Riger Spray®) could safely improve endometrial health and breeding outcomes by comparing 16 treated mares against 8 controls receiving saline placebo, with endometrial cytology sampled at multiple timepoints over one oestrous cycle plus histopathology and bacterial cultures. Ozone treatment triggered a transient inflammatory response at 24 hours post-instillation, which resolved completely within one week, indicating the preparation was well-tolerated without causing lasting endometrial damage; no differences emerged between groups in endometrial biopsy grades, bacterial colonisation, or overall pregnancy rates by season end. The most clinically relevant finding was a trend towards fewer inseminations needed for pregnancy in the ozone group (1.69 versus 2.60 in controls, P=0.0711), suggesting potential efficiency gains in breeding programmes, though the modest sample size and borderline statistical significance warrant cautious interpretation. Whilst these results are encouraging for practitioners seeking novel endometritis management options, the authors have not provided robust evidence of superiority; larger, multicentre trials are needed before making strong recommendations, though the demonstrated safety profile certainly supports further investigation of ozone as an adjunctive therapy for mares with compromised fertility.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Ozone foam as an intrauterine treatment appears safe, with only transient inflammation that resolves within one week—expect temporary cytological changes at 24 hours post-instillation
- •The trend toward fewer inseminations needed for pregnancy in treated mares suggests potential fertility benefit, though the difference was not statistically significant in this sample size
- •This treatment does not appear to alter long-term endometrial histology or overall seasonal pregnancy success, so use should be considered as part of a comprehensive fertility management strategy rather than a standalone solution
Key Findings
- •Ozone foam treatment caused transient endometrial inflammation at 24 hours post-treatment (P<0.05) that resolved by one week
- •Number of inseminations required for pregnancy trended lower in ozone group (1.69±0.06) versus control (2.60±0.89, P=0.0711)
- •No significant differences between groups in pregnancy rates at end of season or at first cycle
- •No differences in endometrial biopsy grades before and after treatment between groups