Evaluation of Reproductive Tract Infection During Early Post‐Partum Period and Its Relationship with Subsequent Reproductive Performance in High Milk Producing Dairy Cows

Abstract

ContentsClinically normal Holstein-Friesian cows (n = 43) were used to establish a relationship between the evaluations of the uterine condition by vaginoscopy, Metricheck, endometrial cytology (EC) and ultrasonography (US) during post-partum period (pp), and subsequent reproductive performance. The uterine status of the selected cows was evaluated by EC, Metricheck, US and vaginoscopy on a weekly basis from the third week (W3) to the seventh week (W7) pp. The animals were bred after a voluntary waiting period of 45-60 days pp and diagnosed for pregnancy status at 45 days after breeding by US. First service conception rate (FSCR) of bred animals was 32.6% (14 ⁄ 43). There was no significant difference in polymorphonuclear leucocyte percentage between conceived and non-conceived cows during different weeks post-partum. First service conception rate in animals with normal vaginal discharge as detected by Metricheck was significantly low when compared to those of abnormal discharge during W3 (2.3% vs 30.3%; p < 0.001) and W4 (4.7% vs 29.7%; p < 0.01) post-partum. Using US, the number of pregnant cows having fluid in uterus (FIU) during W6 (p < 0.01) and W7 (p < 0.001) post-partum was significantly lower (2 ⁄ 34, 4.7% and 1 ⁄ 43, 2.3%, respectively) than those that had no FIU (12 ⁄ 43, 27.9% and 13 ⁄ 43, 30.3%, respectively). Using vaginoscopy, FSCR in animals having abnormal discharge was significantly (p < 0.01) low when compared to that of normal discharge (2.4% vs 30.2%) during W5 and W6 postpartum. In conclusion, Metricheck during W3 and W4 and detection of FIU by US and vaginoscopy during W6 and W7 pp can be used as good predictive tools to anticipate the future reproductive performance of dairy cattle.

Evaluation of vaginal discharge with the Metricheck device and the relationship to reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows

“…The diagnosis of endometritis in the study of McDougall et al (2007) was associated with a reduced chance of being detected in estrus and inseminated as well as reduced conception and pregnancy rates. Contrarily, animals with abnormal vaginal discharge during the first 5 weeks pp had a higher first service conception rate than animals with normal secretions in the study by Senosy et al (2012). Summarizing, the negative effects of abnormal vaginal mucus on reproductive performance observed in our study are well in agreement with previous studies.…”

“…Evaluating the uterine condition by different diagnostic tools, the proportion of animals with mucopurulent or purulent discharge decreased with the increasing pp period reaching zero during week 7 pp in the study by Senosy et al (2012). Compared to other studies, the examination in the present study was done when the dairy cows showed spontaneous estrus.…”

“…In agreement, animals which were highly predisposed to endometritis and assessed with a positive Metricheck status were associated with a reduced reproductive performance (Runciman et al 2009). Contrarily, animals with abnormal vaginal discharge during the first 5 weeks pp had a higher first service conception rate than animals with normal secretions in the study by Senosy et al (2012). Likewise, clinical endometritis altered the reproductive efficiency as affected cows had approximately 70 days longer calving to conception intervals and were at higher risk for culling (Giuliodori et al 2012).…”

“…Despite its usefulness and accuracy for detecting dairy cows with a reduced reproductive performance (Runciman et al 2009;Leutert et al 2012), vaginoscopy is not used as the standard diagnostic tool by clinical practitioners (LeBlanc et al 2002a). Comparing different evaluation methods of the uterine condition in pp dairy cows, including Metricheck, vaginoscopy, endometrial cytology and ultrasonography in clinically normal dairy cows, Senosy et al (2012) confirmed the usefulness of the Metricheck device for predicting the reproductive performance of dairy cows. With this device consisting of a silicon cup attached to a stainless steel rod, vaginal mucus can be collected from the anterior vagina for visual examination (McDougall et al 2007).…”

“…Evaluating the character and odor of the vaginal mucus reflects the number of bacteria in the uterus (Williams et al 2005) and is the key for an effective diagnosis of endometritis. Different diagnostic tools were developed and evaluated (Runciman et al 2009;Senosy et al 2012). Visual vaginoscopy and transrectal palpation are less time-consuming and costly but less sensitive and/or specific than the histological examination of the endometrium, transrectal ultrasonography or endometrial cytology.…”