Evaluation of vaginal swabs in European bison (Bison bonasus L.) – preliminary results

Recent breeding and conservation of European bison are hindered by numerous health problems. These animals have a low resistance and poor tolerance to adverse environmental conditions. In E. bison frequently are diagnosed abnormalities and dysfunctions of reproductive organs. This is undoubtedly associated with a high rate of inbreeding in this species. In males more often so called preputial disease, referred by some authors as posthithis or balanoposthithiswas diagnosed. The etiology of the latter is unknown until now. Females are probably also affected because similar necrotic alterations enclosing the vulvar area were observed in cows. These and other anomalies in the obvious way, impair the ability of individuals to reproduce. Therefore regular monitoring of the health condition of the bison is necessary. One of the methods of health assessments in females is to perform Pap tests, based on vaginal swabs, and their microscopic evaluation. From a technical point of view, these tests are easy to perform, even in free living females, and unlike any other methods of assessing the morphology of genital organs and reproductive capacity of females they do not require the acquisition of an animal after killing. Preparation and attempt to interpret cytological swabs in female bison seem to have a great educational and practical value.