Specificity of 2 peripartum blood markers for early-lactation acute uterine inflammation in pasture-fed, seasonal-calving dairy cows

Abstract

Graphical Abstract Summary: A common pathogen to the postpartum uterine environment was infused into the uterus of dairy cows to induce a uterine infection at 7 weeks postpartum. A control group received a uterine infusion of saline. As a result, inflammatory pathways were activated, characterized by the increase of uterine polymorphonuclear neutrophils for 2 weeks following the infusion. We selected circulating markers of inflammation, serum amyloid A and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, to measure in the bacterial and saline infusion groups and identify whether these markers were specific for uterine inflammation. These markers of inflammation were reported in other studies to be elevated early postpartum in dairy cows with a uterine infection. Concentrations of serum amyloid A were elevated in cows that had a uterine infection, inflammation, or both, compared with cows that had no infection or inflammation. There was no difference between groups for alpha-1-acid glycoprotein concentration.