RECYCLING OF CATHETER FOR EMBRYO RECOVERY: A TOOL FOR COSTS REDUCTION IN EQUINE EMBRYO TRANSFER

Abstract

The embryo transfer is becoming a widespread practice. Most embryos are collected from spontaneous single ovulating mares and result in 50% of embryo recovery, increasing the costs of production. To illustrate, the price of a catheter for embryos recovery range from US$ 194.00 to US$ 250.00 (R$ 350.00 to R$ 450.00). Therefore, the aim of this work was to verify if catheter with damaged balloon can be recuperated and reused without altering its efficiency. For this study, two groups were used: a control group (GI, n=10), on which the nonsurgical recovery of the embryos of mares was performed with the catheter with original balloon; and another group (GII, n=20), in which a restored catheter was utilized. The mares of GI had an embryo recovery rate of 60%, and GII mares had an embryo recovery rate of 55%. There was not statistical difference between groups I and II (P>0.05). Considering that the material used to restore the catheter costs US$16.66 (R$30.00), this data show that the recuperation of the catheters for embryo recovery in mares may reduce costs without compromising the rates of embryo recovery.
 
Keywords: equine, embryo transfer, catheter recycling, costs reduction