Caracterização da colpocitologia em capivaras (“Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris”)

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is one of the species which has interested farmers due to its performance potential, as a result of the quality of its skin and meat. Based on commercial interests, many studies have been done to understand the reproductive physiology and to answer questions that could help to improve the productive status of these animals. This study was performed to describe the cell types from the vaginal epithelium of capybaras and to compare the efficiency of three dyes on cell staining. The experiment was carried out at Centro de Biodiversidade of USIPA, in Ipatinga/MG. Cells were obtained by the swab technique from five adult animals and stained with Giemsa, Methylene Blue and Shorr. Samples were collected every three and five days, during 30 days. Four types of cells were observed, parabasal cells, intermediate cells and superficial cells (with or without nucleus), besides bacteria and leukocytes. The three dyes were able to stain efficiently on colpocitology, however, Giemsa and Metileno Blue were more practical than Shorr. Colpocytology was shown to be an applicable procedure for this animal species.