Contents: Stray dogs are a significant problem in large cities. Contraception is an important and useful solution to control the growing population of these dogs. Early‐age neutering is an effective technique for canine population control; however, surgical neutering may not be possible in various situations. GnRH‐agonist implantation has been successful for long‐term reversible contraception in dogs. The efficacy of GnRH‐agonist implantation on long‐term suppression of reproductive performance was observed in male dogs. Eleven 4‐month‐old dogs were implanted with 4.7, 9.4 mg deslorelin or placebo. Sexual behaviour and testicular size were monitored every 2 months. Ejaculates were collected and evaluated at 8, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 32, 34 and 36 months of age. Dogs implanted with placebo were found to be healthy and in normal reproductive status. Most dogs (3/4) implanted with 4.7 mg deslorelin showed male sexual behaviour at age of 34 months old. From this group, two dogs had normal semen quality, while semen could not be collected from the other dog, and after castration, no sperm were obtained following epididymal flushing. One dog implanted 4.7 mg deslorelin and four dogs implanted with 9.4 mg deslorelin remained in the non‐pubertal reproductive status at 30–34 months. The delay to puberty was longer in dogs implanted with higher dose of GnRH agonist. Implantation of pre‐pubertal dogs with high doses of GnRH agonist will delay the onset of puberty and may be an effective strategy to reduce the number of unwanted breedings.

Content: The aim of this study was to localize and evaluate the role of Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) in the endometrium and cervix of bitches at different stages of the oestrous cycle and in bitches with pyometra. Sixty‐seven nulliparous dogs, ranging in age from 1 to 13 years, were allocated amongst five groups (pro‐oestrus; n = 7, oestrus; n = 10, dioestrus; n = 16, anoestrus; n = 11, pyometra; n = 23). Blood samples were collected for the measurement of progesterone concentration. The mean progesterone concentration was analysed as a parameter for validating the stage of the oestrous cycle in bitches. Tissues collected from uterine horn and cervix were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunohistochemical examination of TLR2. The expression of TLR2 was assessed semi‐quantitatively. No pathological changes were found in the uterine samples of healthy dogs. In bitches with pyometra, the glandular epithelium expressed TLR2 more intensely than the surface epithelium. The expression of TLR2 in the glandular epithelium was also significantly higher in healthy dogs at oestrus, dioestrus and dogs with pyometra compared with anoestrous dogs (p < 0.01). The expression of TLR2 in the stroma was not observed in the group of healthy dogs at all stages. The surface epithelium of cervix in dogs with pyometra expressed TLR2 significantly more intensely than did the stoma, whereas the expression of TLR2 during oestrus and dioestrus was absent in the stroma of cervix. This study provides the first report of immunohistochemical localization of TLR2 in the canine reproductive tract. In the present study, TLR2 was expressed in endometrial epithelium but was absent in the endometrial stroma of healthy dogs at all oestrous cycle stages. These findings suggest differential expression of TLR in endometrial cells. On the other hand, the lack of TLR2 in the stroma of healthy uteri of dogs may predispose to infection from the invading pathogens once the epithelial cells have been destroyed by the pathogens, especially Gram‐positive bacteria.

Background and Aim: Postpartum reproductive tract infections pose significant challenges to dairy farms, leading to economic losses due to reduced fertility associated with uterine inflammation. In veterinary practice, numerous research groups have explored the underlying causes of subfertility in cows, including surveying endemic viral infections related to endometritis in local areas. This study investigated bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) infection in Thai dairy herds and assessed its impact on endometritis and subsequent reproductive outcomes. Materials and Methods: The present study analyzed BoHV-4 DNA in various samples, including milk, blood, and endometrial tissue, from 44 Holstein-Friesian cows 21–47 days postpartum across five dairy herds in Central Thailand. BoHV-4 glycoprotein B and thymidine kinase DNA sequences were detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR, with sequence comparisons made to GenBank data for phylogenetic analysis. The endometritis status was diagnosed through vaginal mucus examination and endometrial cytology, with reproductive performance monitored up to the subsequent calving. Results: BoHV-4 DNA was identified in blood and endometrial tissues (15.91%) but not in milk samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the local BoHV-4 strains are similar to those identified in Brazil and Japan. Notably, the presence of BoHV-4 was correlated with reduced postpartum reproductive performance, particularly extending the interval from calving to the first service. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of integrating BoHV-4 genomic surveys and uterine health assessments to refine reproductive management strategies within the dairy industry. Keywords: bovine herpesvirus-4, dairy cattle, endometritis, phylogenetic analysis, reproductive performance, Thailand.