Associations between the clinical signs of chronic endometritis with ovarian cysts and body condition loss in German Holstein Friesian cows

Abstract

The objective of this retrospective field study was to associate the type and smell of discharge, the size of the uterus, the ovarian and treatment status, and the time to diagnosis of animals with chronic clinical endometritis (CCE) with the incidence of ovarian cysts and with a marked loss in body condition in German Holstein Friesian cows. Two hundred and sixty-four cows diagnosed with CCE from day 14 to day 42 postpartum participated in this study. In addition, 100 days milk production and the parity of the animals were included in the analysis. With the use of logistic regression, a purulent vaginal discharge (≥ 50% pus), the decision not to treat the animals for CCE and a high 100 days milk production proved to be significant factors for the incidence of ovarian cysts. Additionally, the type of discharge showed interactions with the parity and the smell of the discharge, as more animals with fetid and purulent discharge and more animals in the first lactation with a purulent discharge developed ovarian cysts. A high milk production and the parity showed associations with an excessive body condition score loss. Additionally, more animals with a diagnosis of an oversized uterus in comparison to cows with an early involution experienced a considerable reduction in their nutritional condition.

Uterine inflammation affects the reproductive performance of dairy cows: A review

“…Additionally, healthy cows had a lower incidence of cystic follicles (Maquivar et al, 2015). Tsousis et al (2009) also had found a greater incidence of ovarian cysts in cows with clinical endometritis diagnosed from 14 to 42 DIM.…”

Postpartum Uterine Infections in Cows and Factors Affecting it– A Review

“…Cows aged between 2-4 years have a small pelvis compared to older cows and thus greater degree of uterine damage leads to uterine infection (Potter et al, 2010). Tsousis et al, (2009) found out that cows in their first parity had persistent purulent discharge compared to older cows which could have been as a result of calving assistance leading to uterine lesions. Endometritis was more prevalent in mature cows where cows in their third or higher lactation had a prevalence of 21% compared to 13% for cows in first and second lactation (LeBlanc et al, 2002).…”

“…Lowest incidence of postpartum metritis occurred in cows between 2 and 4 years of age and was highest in cows older than 7 years (Smith and Risco, 2002). Young cows are prone to uterine injuries during assisted calving and thus predisposing them to uterine infections (Konyves et al, 2009;Tsousis et al, 2009). Cows aged between 2-4 years have a small pelvis compared to older cows and thus greater degree of uterine damage leads to uterine infection (Potter et al, 2010).…”

“…Dystocia is defined as complications developed during calving which often results in postpartum uterine infections (Foldi et al, 2006;Tsousis et al, 2009). Dystocia results in injury to uterine tissue which can easily be invaded by pathogens and leads to uterine infection (Kim and Kang, 2003).…”

Research of postpartum endometritis in Japanese Black cattle with cystic ovarian disease by vaginal mucus test and endometrial cytology

“…Endometritis induces ovarian disorder, resulting in subfertility in dairy cattle (Herath et al, 2006(Herath et al, , 2007Williams et al, 2007). A relationship between endometritis and COD has been reported in dairy cattle (Kesler and Garverick, 1982;Bosu and Peter, 1987;Tsousis et al, 2009). The relationships among uterine infection, endotoxin production, and resumption of postpartum ovarian activity have been established (Mateus et al, 2003).…”