奶牛产后子宫感染与子宫免疫

非特异性子宫感染会降低奶牛的生产性能和奶牛场的潜在效益。发生子宫感染时常并发感染化脓性放线杆菌或混合感染其他细菌。当从产后21 d的奶牛子宫液中分离到化脓性放线杆菌时,说明奶牛发生了严重的子宫内膜炎,并且将导致产后第一个发情期不孕。然而引起子宫感染的确切原因尚不清楚,但可以肯定与多种因素有关。发生难产、胎衣不下、怀有双胎或死胎以及患有各种代谢紊乱疾病的奶牛比其他奶牛更容易发生子宫感染。分娩前后异常的免疫功能更容易导致发生严重的子宫感染。子宫感染一般不会引起奶牛死亡,但是发生子宫感染的奶牛其生产性能会受到很大影响。另外,子宫发生感染还会降低产奶量,并且对子宫感染的一些治疗措施还会对牛奶产生污染。因为感染的非特异性,所以子宫感染很难预防;注意加强卫生设施以及围产期的卫生,特别是在助产过程中的卫生,才可能是最好的预防方法。异常免疫功能导致奶牛发生子宫感染的现象,说明通过对免疫功能的调节来预防和治疗围产期奶牛子宫感染是有潜力的。     

Predisposing factors,diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of persistent endometritis in postpartum cows

A certain level of endometrial bacterial infection and inflammation is involved in bovine uterine involution during the puerperal period. Factors that hamper normal uterine involution expose the uterine environment to pathological conditions, causing different endometritis levels. The lack of proper diagnostic tools extends the time to conception. Efforts have been made to elucidate the postpartum uterine environment, including bacterial flora, changes in transient endometrial inflammation, and the pathophysiology of endometritis, to improve bovine reproductive performance. E. coli and Trueperella pyogenes in the uterus are likely to cause persistent infection, and Mycoplasma bovigenitalium infection is associated with dystocia and cytological endometritis in postpartum dairy cows. Due to the widespread use of cytobrush as a diagnostic tool for bovine subclinical endometritis (SE) that enables quantification of the degree of inflammation, we found that endometritis at week 5 postpartum was associated with delayed first ovulation. Approximately 30% of open cows have SE during the postpartum period, and cows with low blood glucose during prepartum have a high risk of developing SE. Additionally, cows with purulent vaginal discharge do not always have endometritis but only vaginitis and/or cervicitis. Intrauterine infusion of polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) improves fertility and promotes endometrial epithelial cell regeneration after inducing transient uterine inflammation, suggesting that PVP-I could be a good alternative to antibiotics. In conclusion, prepartum management to prevent glucose deficiency, prompt diagnosis to identify causative agents and intrauterine inflammation levels, and appropriate treatment to minimize antimicrobial resistance is beneficial for tackling endometritis and improving reproductive performance in bovine herds.     

Pre-breeding Ovaro–Uterine Ultrasonography and its Relationship with First Service Pregnancy Rate in Seasonal-Calving Dairy Herds

The objectives of the study were to characterize an ultrasound reproductive tract scoring (URTS) system to assess suitability for breeding in dairy cows, to describe the prevalence of these scores in commercial dairy herds and to examine their relationship with subsequent fertility. Ultrasound examinations (7797) were performed on 5751 Holstein–Friesian cows prior to breeding in 62 seasonally calving herds over 2 years. Data recorded from images of both ovaries and the uterus were combined into a six point scoring system and the prevalence of cows with cystic ovarian follicles and uterine abscesses and adhesions was recorded separately. The prevalence of ovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (score 1), or had mild (2) or moderate endometritis (3) was 62.5%, 21.7% and 2.2%, respectively. The prevalence of anovulatory cows with moderate endometritis (4), ovulatory cows with pyometra (5) and anovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (6) was 3.3%, 2.2% and 8.1%, respectively. The interval between calving and examination differed between cows with each of the scores 1, 2, 5 and 6 (61, 46, 53 and 50 days, respectively, p < 0.05) but not between cows with scores 3 and 4 (37 and 35 days, respectively). Ovulatory cows which had completed uterine involution (score 1) had a higher likelihood of pregnancy to first service than ovulatory or anovulatory cows which had not completed uterine involution (p ≤ 0.10). The prevalence of cows with cystic ovarian follicles or abscesses or adhesions of the reproductive tract was 3.9% and 1.2%, respectively. In conclusion, 29% and 11% of cows in seasonally calving and breeding dairy herds had not completed uterine involution or were anovulatory prior to the mating start date, respectively. Both conditions, detected using a URTS system, significantly reduced first service pregnancy rate in these pasture-based dairy herds.     

Bacterial flora of the uterus of cows after calving on two hygienically contrasting farms.

Intrauterine swabs were obtained from cows after calving on two commercial dairy herds with contrasting hygienic environments and incidence of leucorrhea, and cultured aerobically and anaerobically. Of 26 cows with a normal calving and puerperium, eight of 14 (57 per cent) were sterile on farm B where hygiene was poor, compared with five of 12 (42 per cent) on farm A where hygiene was better. Two cows on farm B retained their placentas and subsequently developed metritis/endometritis. Actinomyces pyogenes was the commonest bacterial isolate and Fusobacterium nucleatum, Proteus mirabilis and Bacteroides melaninogenicus were also frequently observed. Similar isolates were obtained from cows on farm B with parturient or puerperal disorders. The contrasting hygienic environments had no influence on either the quantitative or qualitative uterine bacterial flora. Thus, the difference in the incidence of endometritis must have been due to factors other than hygiene.     

Hormonal treatments for fertility disorders in cattle

In dairy cows, hormonal treatments are commonly implemented for acyclicity, silent heat and endometritis. Before treatment, causes of infertility need to be detected and severe failures in housing, feeding or other diseases must be eliminated. Without sustainable improvement of herd management, the use of intensive hormonal treatments will not improve reproductive performance. The most common cause of anoestrous is silent heat. In cows with a palpable corpus luteum, injection of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) reliably induces oestrous. A satisfactory treatment for acyclicity (ovarian dystrophy, ovarian cysts) does not exist. Combinations of different hormones have greater treatment success than a single use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) or human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). Strategic use of PGF during the early postpartum period cannot be recommended because positive effects on uterus involution and resumption of the oestrous cycle after calving have not been verified. In contrast, application of GnRH combined with PGF in the puerperal phase appeared to have positive effects on fertility of cows with endometritis. The same applies to PGF for cows with chronic endometritis. Cases of endometritis with fetid odour of vaginal mucus or isolation of Trueperella pyogenes should be treated with antibiotics. Treatment before the 27th day post partum is not advisable. In conclusion, hormonal treatments can be used to treat fertility disorders. Nevertheless, in order to enhance the reproductive performance at the herd level, a sustainable improvement of the general conditions (housing, feeding, animal health, management) is a prerequisite.     

Suitability of sonographic evaluation of ovarian dynamics and uterine involution for prediction of postpartum fertility in the cow

To investigate the suitability of sonography for prediction of puerperal fertility, we used 34 cows with normal puerperium. For this purpose, the animals were examined gynecologically and by transrectal sonography at 10-day intervals between day 15 and day 45 p.p. as well as at oestrus, when they were inseminated. We judged uterine involution by diameter and sonographic structure of the uterine cross-section and ovarian activity by the presence of follicles and corpora lutea. Cows, which became pregnant after first insemination p.p., were assigned to group G1 (n = 16) and animals, which failed to conceive, to group G2 (n = 18). The cows of G1 obtained significantly better results concerning both uterine involution and ovarian activity than cows of G2. Thus, diameter of the uterine horn decreased faster and sonographic structure of the uterine cross section returned markedly earlier to the nonpregnant appearance in G1 than in G2. Group G1 also showed a significantly higher percentage of dominant follicles at all examinations. The results of the study show a distinct relationship between uterine involution and ovarian activity and puerperal fertility. But it has also to be resumed that the prediction of fertility for individuals will always be restricted by other reasons causing failure of conception.     

Uterine involution in Finnish dairy cows

The effect of parity on the cervical and uterine involution was studied in 79 Finnish dairy cows on a research farm. The cows were examined clinically by rectal palpation 3 times a week during 8 weeks postpartum. The diameters of the cervix and uterine horns were estimated manually. The parous uterine horn was compared with the non-parous one. The results were separately analysed in primiparous cows (n = 18) and in those with the third calving (n = 61). A significant difference (p less than 0.001) between the parous and non-parous uterine horns was obtained until 21 days. Thereafter, involution still continued and equal diameters for the horns were not found until 5 weeks after parturition. A decline of the cervical diameter continued until 30 days after the delivery. The parity had no significant effect on the swiftness of uterine or cervical involution. However, in multiparous cows the cervical diameter remained larger than that in the primiparous animals still at 8 weeks postpartum.     

Significance of nitric oxide concentration in plasma and uterine secretes with puerperal endometritis in dairy cows

Endometritis is an inflammation of the endometrial lining of the uterus without systemic signs, which is associated with chronic postpartum infection of the uterus with pathogenic bacteria. Nitric oxide (NO) is an inflammatory mediator that among other effects causes smooth muscle relaxation and mediated cytoimmunity and inflammation toxicity. To see if the nitric oxide concentration in plasma and uterine secrets is related with postpartum endometritis, NO concentrations in plasma and uterine secrets were measured in dairy cows with puerperal endometritis (clinical endometritis (n = 60) and subclinical endometritis (n = 58)). Cows with clinical or subclinical endometritis showed higher concentrations of NO in both plasma and uterine secrets when compared with normal cows and the highest concentrations of NO in plasma and uterine secrets were found in dairy cows with clinical endometritis. Expression level of NOS2 mRNA in endometrial biopsies from cows with puerperal endometritis was also higher and the highest expression of NOS2 mRNA was found in cows with clinical endometritis. The results showed that concentrations of NO in plasma and uterine fluid are related with the degree of endometritis which may be useful to diagnose the endometritis in dairy cows.     

奶牛子宫复旧期间FSH和LH动态变化规律研究

子宫复旧是奶牛产后生殖器官恢复的一个重要时期,复旧时间的长短会直接影响产后第一次发情的时间,子宫复旧的正常时间为产后30～46d。本试验为研究促卵泡素(FSH)与促黄体素(LH)在子宫复旧过程中的变化规律,选择了年龄、胎次相近,健康状况良好的产后奶牛15头,应用放射免疫分析法在子宫复旧期间每3天对奶牛血清中FSH与LH进行一次测定,前后持续10次。由试验数据可得出,FSH与LH分泌水平在子宫复旧的早期比较低,FSH浓度到产后第15天达到峰值,LH从产后第21天开始大幅上升,到产后第24天浓度达到峰值,之后二者浓度变动范围不大。     

Combined GnRH and PGF2α Application in Cows with Endometritis Puerperalis Treated with Antibiotics

The investigations were carried out on a total of 70 cows with puerperal endometritis. In addition to intrauterine antibiotic treatment, 30 experimental animals were administered 20 μg GnRH analogue, buserelin, between days 10 and 12 post‐partum followed by 500 μg PGF_2α analogue, cloprostenol, 10 days later. Forty control cows were treated only with intrauterine antibiotics. Blood samples for progesterone determination were collected from the tail vein twice weekly until day 70 post‐partum. The first rise in progesterone level above 3.18 nmol/l occurred significantly earlier in the experimental than in control cows (21.6 ± 9.2 versus 27.8 ± 12.3 days; p ≤ 0.05). The duration of the first cycle post‐partum was 15.0 ± 4.3 days in experimental and 19.7 ± 7.3 days in control animals (p ≤ 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the occurrence of first oestrus post‐partum. The involution of the uterus was improved after hormone treatment. At day 42 post‐partum, completion of uterine involution was found in 93.3% of hormone‐treated cows and in 82.5% of those treated with antibiotic only (p ≤ 0.05). Clinical recovery was 96.6% in the experimental and 82.5% in the control group (p ≤ 0.05). First service pregnancy rate was significantly better in hormone‐treated than control cows (51.7 versus 36.4%; p ≤ 0.05). Total pregnancy rate and insemination index values were not significantly improved following GnRH and PGF_2α treatment. The average service period was 89.8 ± 21.2 days in cows after hormone treatment, and 112.6 ± 24.5 days in control cows. The difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). These results indicate, that the sequential GnRH and PGF_2α application in cows with puerperal endometritis positively affected ovarian function and uterine involution, resulting in improved fertility performance.     

Rationale for treatment of endometritis in the dairy cow

Endometritis is an inflammation of the uterine lining that is commonly initiated at parturition. The degree of its effect on fertility varies with the severity of the inflammation, the time required for resolution of endometrial lesions, and the extent of permanent changes that impair endometrial gland functions and/or alter the uterine and/or oviductal environment. The primary nonspecific organisms associated with endometrial pathology are Corynebacterium pyogenes and the gram-negative anaerobes. The majority of postpartum dairy cows have some degree of endometritis but resolve it by 40 to 50 days post partum. Cows with certain periparturient disorders involving the reproductive tract and/or a defective host immune mechanism may acquire persistent infections that impair subsequent fertility. Not all infertile cows or all cows with positive uterine cultures have endometritis. Cows recovering from C. pyogenes endometritis may require 1 month after clearance of the organism for fertility to be restored. These cows, as well as many cows with slightly delayed uterine involution at 30 days post partum, do not benefit from antimicrobial therapy. The effect of endometritis varies between herds. It is associated with prolongation of calving intervals that can vary from less than 2 weeks to 2 months or more. The cost of days open beyond 80 to 110 days post partum is currently estimated to be $2.00 to $2.25 per day. Evaluation of the bovine genital tract is best conducted by a rectal examination combined with a vaginal speculum examination. Cows selected for therapy for endometritis should meet the strict requirements of a grossly enlarged uterus and a severely abnormal uterine discharge. Induction of estrus is the treatment of choice whenever possible. When antimicrobial therapy is indicated, tetracycline is recommended for intrauterine use during the early postpartum period when mixed bacterial populations are present. Commonly used doses are 2 to 3 gm. For systemic signs of illness, systemic administration of penicillin has been recommended. Twice daily doses of 5000 to 10,000 IU of penicillin per kg may be necessary to maintain therapeutic blood concentrations. Systemic administration of an antimicrobial is necessary to achieve therapeutic concentrations in the oviducts, cervix, and vagina. With chronic endometritis due to C. pyogenes, intrauterine administration of 1 to 1.5 X 10(6) IU of procaine penicillin G has been recommended. Multiple daily treatments are desirable. Milk from treated cows should be tested for penicillin before it is added to bulk tank milk. It still is not clear whether antimicrobial therapy is cost effective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Prostaglandin F2α metabolite levels in normal and uterine-infected postpartum cows

The stable metabolite of prostaglandin F₂, 15 keto-13, 14-dihydroprostaglandin F₂ (PGFM), was measured from peripheral blood samples collected at specified intervals postpartum from 7 normal dairy cows and 4 cows with apparent endometritis. Plasma PFGM levels were significantly (P<.05) elevated for the first 5 days postpartum in the cows with endometritis (ranging from 4.0 to 5.0 ng/ml) compared to the controls (approximately 1.0 ng/ml). Beyond 5 days postpartum, plasma PGFM levels were not significantly different and decreased to approximately 0.4 ng/ml by day 13 in both groups. Time to uterine involution was not different between groups (less than 30 days). Therefore, uterine infections in cows during the puerperium was associated with elevated circulating PGFM levels. These findings and the observation that PGF₂ is not uterotonic in the puerperal cow do not suggest a therapeutic use of PGF₂ in order to evacuate the uterus.     

Persistence of uterine bacterial infection,and its associations with endometritis and ovarian function in postpartum dairy cows

We investigated the relationship between the persistence of uterine bacterial infections with cytologically determined endometritis and ovarian function in 65 postpartum Holstein cows. Vaginal mucus discharges were collected, and endometrial smear samples (n = 130) were collected for cytological and bacteriological examinations from the cows at weeks 5 and 7 postpartum (pp). Blood samples were collected at weeks 3, 5 and 7 pp to determine plasma progesterone concentrations to monitor ovarian activity. According to the bacteriological examination, cows were classified into four groups. The first group (n = 32; 49%) comprised cows negative for bacteria at weeks 5 and 7 pp. The second group (n = 11; 17%) comprised cows with bacterial infections at week 5 pp but that were clear of infection at week 7 pp. The third group (n = 12; 19%) comprised cows without bacteria at week 5 pp but that acquired an infection by week 7 pp. The fourth group (n = 10; 15%) comprised cows with bacterial infections at weeks 5 and 7 pp (persistence of infection). A positive correlation (P < 0.001) was noted between the severity of cytologically determined endometritis, purulent vaginal discharge and the persistence of infection. Cows with persistent infections had a significantly (P < 0.01) prolonged luteal phase compared with cows without infection. In conclusion, the prevalence of cytologically determined endometritis and prolonged luteal phase were significantly increased in cows with persistent infections.     

Neutrophil function and energy status in Holstein cows with uterine health disorders

The objectives of this study were to investigate the associations between peripheral blood neutrophil (PMN) function, energy status, and uterine health in periparturient dairy cows. Data were collected from 83 multiparous Holstein cows. Blood samples for PMN function determination were collected weekly from 1 week prior to calving (week -1) through 4 weeks after calving and again at 8 weeks after calving. Energy metabolites were measured and dry matter intake (DMI) was determined from weeks -2 to 5 to evaluate energy status of cows during the periparturient period. All cows were examined for uterine health disorders. Blood PMN killing ability was evaluated by determining myeloperoxidase activity and cytochrome c reduction activity in isolated blood PMN's. For cows that were diagnosed with puerperal metritis and subclinical (SC) endometritis and puerperal metritis, blood PMN functions were significantly (P<0.05) impaired during the periparturient period, compared to cows with normal uterine health. Cows with subclinical endometritis and puerperal metritis or SC endometritis also had significantly (P<0.01) higher NEFA and significantly (P<0.001) lower DMI during the periparturient period, and significantly (P<0.05) higher BHBA during early lactation, compared to cows with normal uterine health. Neutrophil function was also significantly (P<0.01) impaired in cows with peripartum negative energy balance, which was characterized by elevated blood levels of NEFA and decreased DMI. Decreased PMN function and energy balance were associated with uterine health disorders and the decreases in PMN function and energy balance occurred prior to parturition and prior to the detection of these uterine disorders.     

Associations of prepartum body condition score with occurrence of clinical endometritis and resumption of postpartum ovarian activity in dairy cattle

This study was performed to investigate the effect of periparturient body condition score on the occurrence of clinical endometritis and postpartum resumption of ovarian activity in dairy cows. Eighty-seven lactating Holstein cows, fed with a total mixed ration diet, were included into the study. Body condition scoring (using a 5-point scale with quarter-point divisions) was performed by the same investigator using the visual technique every 2 weeks, from 2 weeks before until 6 weeks after calving. Palpation of the reproductive tract and ultrasonographic assessment of ovaries for detection of corpus luteum using a rectal linear probe was also performed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks after calving. Cows with clinical endometritis had significantly lower body condition score (BCS) than normal cows at all weeks pre- and postcalving, and cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving had a significantly lower BCS pre- and postpartum. Cows that did not ovulate until 45 days after calving also lost more BCS from 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after calving. Besides, first ovulation after calving take occurred later in cows with clinical endometritis compared to normal cows (P?<?0.05). In conclusion, low BCS is a risk factor for postpartum endometritis and delayed cyclicity in dairy cows. BCS loss from dry-off to early lactation and occurrence of clinical endometritis can significantly affect postpartum ovarian activity.     

奶牛子宫内膜炎诊疗学研究进展

子宫内膜炎是奶牛产后普遍发生的一种生殖疾病,可导致奶牛产犊间期延长、产奶量降低、淘汰率增加、治疗期间奶源废弃、管理及治疗成本增加,也是导致奶牛不孕症的重要原因之一。目前国内外防治奶牛子宫内膜炎的诊断技术和治疗方法众多,主要有阴道镜检查、Metricheck装置评估、子宫细胞学检查、抗生素疗法、中药疗法、中西医结合疗法、激素疗法、臭氧新型疗法等诊疗技术。阴道镜检查是一种可视化检查方法,利用内窥镜直观评估奶牛阴道内分泌物性状确定子宫内膜炎严重程度;Metricheck装置是根据阴道内分泌物含量和性状,设置不同评分值评估产后奶牛子宫内膜炎和繁殖性能;子宫细胞学检查通过子宫细胞刷、灌洗或活检技术确定子宫内膜细胞和中性粒细胞（PMN）的比例,设定奶牛产后不同时期PMN最佳阈值诊断子宫内膜炎;抗生素疗法通过宫内灌注、皮下注射、静脉注射抗生素等途径治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎,治疗成本低,见效快,是目前治疗奶牛临床子宫内膜炎最常用的疗法;中药疗法筛选不同组分的中药复方制剂,通过调节奶牛机体免疫系统,改善子宫内血液循环,抑制致病菌繁殖,促进子宫恢复正常生理机能;中西医结合疗法兼具中药辩证治疗的优点和西药见效快的特点,临床治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎具有广泛应用价值;激素疗法中前列腺素通过诱导黄体溶解,消除黄体酮产生和免疫抑制,刺激子宫复旧,降低产后奶牛长期子宫感染和炎症的风险;臭氧新型疗法是将臭氧制作成泡沫制剂、油制剂等产品通过宫内灌注杀灭病原菌。这些诊疗技术在治疗奶牛子宫内膜炎的过程中均取得了不同程度的效果,对评估产后奶牛繁殖性能和生产性能具有良好的指导作用。文章通过介绍这些诊疗技术在奶牛子宫内膜炎中应用的研究进展,以期为该病的防治提供参考。     

Reproductive efficiency of cows with endometritis after treatment with intrauterine infusions or prostaglandin injections, or no treatment

Data from 3276 cows with 6598 lactations in 85 herds participating in a herd health monitoring programme were selected for an observational study. Cases of endometritis were diagnosed based on a clinical examination after 21 days postpartum. The cases were grouped by the severity of endometritis (mild, severe) and by the treatment performed (intrauterine infusion, prostaglandin injection, no treatment). The conception rates and the calving-to-conception intervals of these groups were compared statistically. Conception rate was lower in cows with severe endometritis compared to cows with mild endometritis while it did not differ between treatment groups. In cows with mild endometritis a significantly longer calving-to-conception interval was observed if intrauterine infusions were performed compared to the other two treatment options. The occurrence of other fertility problems during the same service period had a significant effect on conception rate and calving-to-conception intervals. In cows with severe endometritis intrauterine or prostaglandin treatments appeared to be beneficial, whereas intrauterine infusions in cows with slight endometritis had a negative effect on reproductive efficiency.     

A Universal Index of Uterine Discharge Symptoms from Calving to 6 Weeks Postpartum

In this paper, a new uterine discharge index (D‐index) was created and tested. It was based on a principal component analysis (PCA) of clinical findings of classical uterine discharge symptoms and rectal temperature during the postpartum period of dairy cattle. The PCA analysis revealed how uterine discharge features relate to each other and how they cluster together possibly representing different degrees of uterine inflammation. The D‐index was the result of the multivariate PCA‐analysis, and the D‐index gives a continuous value between 0 and 10. It was demonstrated that the same scale, i.e. the D‐index, can be used without any adjustment from 1 to 6 weeks post‐calving. It is valid for any type of uterine discharge without defining the type of infection or differentiating between infection and contamination. The D‐index was tested using the uterine involution data. Uterine involution was significantly delayed in the high‐D‐index group of cows. Similarly, in the test with all cows, involution was progressively delayed and the rate of involution of the pregnant horn was slowed down with the increase of the D‐index values. It is concluded that the D‐index can be a new practical, universal, tool for improved management of dairy cows in the postpartum period under commercial conditions.     

Early abortion in cattle induced by experimental intrauterine infection with pure cultures of Actinomyces pyogenes

Actinomyces pyogenes from a case of endometritis was used to study the effects of infection of the bovine embryo between days 27 and 41 of pregnancy. From 10(9) to 10(10) washed organisms were introduced into the uterine lumen of four pregnant cows. Two pregnant cows were inoculated with sterile saline and four pregnant cows were treated with cloprostenol. Embryonic death and abortion followed 29 to 144 hours after the inoculation of the live bacteria. The aborted embryos were macerated or clearly degenerating and yielded profuse pure cultures of A pyogenes. Abortion was accompanied by a sustained increase in uterine tone, opening of the cervix, presence of vaginal pus and a vulval discharge and the persistence of the corpus luteum for at least eight days after abortion. Intrauterine inoculation with saline did not affect pregnancy, but embryonic death, abortion and regression of the corpus luteum occurred 66 to 72 hours after the treatment with cloprostenol. The results suggest that A pyogenes is a primary pathogen and is capable of causing embryonic death and abortion.     

15-Ketodihydro-PGF2α, Progesterone and Uterine Involution in Primiparous Cows with Induced Retained Placenta and Post-partal Endometritis Treated with Oxytetracycline and Flunixin

Retention of the foetal membranes (RFM) and post‐partal endometritis are common problems in dairy cows. Among other things, the disease is characterized by a bacterial endometritis with aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria. From an endocrine perspective, cows with RFM have high levels of 15‐ketodihydro‐PGF_2α (PG‐metabolite) immediately after parturition but these levels fall rapidly within 2 weeks post‐partum (early PG‐metabolite elevation). After this decline, the PG‐metabolite levels increase again and the levels (at this time of a lower magnitude) remain elevated during the period of uterine infection (late PG‐metabolite elevation). The aim of this study was to investigate the PG‐metabolite profiles in cows with retained placenta and post‐partal endometritis treated with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor flunixin (F), either alone or in combination with oxytetracycline (T). The study was accomplished over 2 years with 12 primiparous cows in each experiment. As a model for RFM, preterm parturition was induced in late‐pregnant heifers by injecting PGF_2α (25 mg i.m) twice with a 24 h interval. In each experiment, the cows were divided into four groups and treated with either T (10 mg/kg b.w. i.m. once daily), F (2.2 mg/kg b.w. p.o. twice per day), a combination of T and F (dosage, as above), or conservatively (0). The treatment periods lasted from day 11 to day 14 post‐partum (pp) in experiment 1 (after placental shedding, groups T1, F1, TF1 and 0) and from day 3 to day 6 pp in experiment 2 (before placental shedding, groups T2, F2, TF2 and 0). Jugular vein blood samples were collected for analyses of PG‐metabolite and flunixin. Uterine biopsies were collected twice weekly for investigation of endometrial microbiology. Rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examinations were performed three times per week for investigations of uterine and cervical involution and ovarian activity. No attempts were made to remove the placentas manually. The experiment lasted until day 56 pp. The induction of parturition was successful in all heifers and 22 of 24 animals had RFM. All RFM cows had bacterial endometritis, based on bacteriological examinations. Flunixin treatment (F1, TF1, F2 and TF2) suppressed PG‐metabolite levels significantly (p=0.006) during the period of treatment in both experiments. However, the early flunixin treatment only suppressed PG synthesis partially. Late oxytetracycline treatment (T1) did not influence the PG‐metabolite levels but oxytetracycline treatment (T2 and TF2) before placental shedding significantly altered the kinetics of the early PG‐metabolite elevation compared with other treatments. Late PG‐metabolite elevation was significantly correlated to duration of uterine infection and cervical involution. In conclusion, flunixin treatment of cows with retained placenta either before or after placental shedding suppresses prostaglandin synthesis. However, early treatment, when the release of prostaglandins is high, might need more intensive treatment in order to prevent the PG synthesis effectively. Oxytetracycline treatment during the period immediately after parturition before placental shedding might influence the PG‐metabolite profile and suggests a bacteriological contribution to the high levels of PG‐metabolite seen during the first 2 weeks pp in cows with retained placenta. In this study, a correlation between prostaglandin release, the final cervical involution and the end of infection was found. This suggests a link between uterine endocrinology, bacteriology and involution in cows with retained placenta.