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The aim of the present study was to compare endometrial cytology with histopathology to diagnose subclinical endometritis (SCE) in dairy cows. Endometrial cytology samples were collected from Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 32) just before slaughtering. Half of them were obtained by in vivo cytobrush (IV-CB), whereas the other half by in vivo low-volume lavage (IV-LVL). After slaughtering, reproductive tracts were collected, and the endometrium was sampled at eight locations. At each location, both a ex vivo cytobrush sample (EV-CB) and a tissue sample for histopathologic examination were taken. In the histopathology slides, polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell counts were differentiated as PMN cells in direct contact with the epithelial cells of the endometrium (PMN-EP), and PMN cells present in the deeper stratum compactum (PMN-SC). Summation of both countings was referred to as PMN-total. Pearson's correlation …