The Metritis Complex in Cattle

Abstract

Retained fetal membranesRetained fetal membranes (RFM) are defined as the failure of an animal to expel the fetal membranes, within 24 hours of the end of parturition. Retained placenta is an alternative name used for RFM. There is some variation in the literature about the duration of retention that defines the clinical disorder. Some prefer to define retention as being for12 hours, but the timing is arbitrary and most normal cows expel the fetal membranes within a few hours of parturition. The incidence of RFM varies amongst herds, but is typically 5 to 10% of animals.The importance of RFM is that they are associated with reduced milk yield and an increased risk of metritis. MetritisMetritis is most common within 10 days of parturition. Metritis is characterized by an enlarged uterus and a watery red-brown fluid, to viscous off-white purulent, uterine discharge, which often has a fetid odour (Sheldon et al 2006). The incidence of metritis varies between breed, country and herd, but in a study of the records from 97,318 cows in the USA, the lactation incidence of metritis, including RFM, was 21% (Zwald et al 2004). However, in some studies the incidence is as high as 40% of the herd. The associated clinical signs are used to classify the severity of disease, which varies from unapparent disease to fatal toxaemic metritis. Clinical endometritisClinical endometritis is defined as the presence of a purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina of cattle 21 days or more postpartum, or a mucopurulent discharge detectable in the vagina after 26 days postpartum (Sheldon et al 2006). The incidence of clinical endometritis is around 10 to 20%, with variation between breed, country and herd; a typical study reported that 16.9% of 1,865 dairy cows were affected in Canada (LeBlanc et al

Preventing postpartum uterine disease in dairy cattle depends on avoiding, tolerating and resisting pathogenic bacteria

“…Here we outline the role of bacteria in postpartum uterine disease and provide a perspective on the mechanisms that dairy cows use to prevent postpartum uterine disease. We encourage readers to consult comprehensive reviews if they require information on pathogens other than bacteria, or more detail about the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of uterine disease [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Instead, we aim to bring new ideas to light and challenge readers to think about how resilient dairy cows prevent postpartum uterine disease.…”

“…Theriogenology published a set of definitions for postpartum uterine diseases in cattle in 2006 [1]. Since then, there has been increased understanding about the incidence, etiology, pathogenesis and consequences of the main postpartum uterine diseases -metritis and endometritis [2][3][4][5][6][7]. It is less clear why some dairy cows develop postpartum uterine disease when infected with pathogenic bacteria around the time of parturition, whilst other resilient cows remain healthy, even when exposed to the same pathogens.…”

Preventing Postpartum Uterine Disease in Dairy Cattle Depends on Avoiding, Tolerating and Resisting Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Here we review the mechanisms that dairy cows use to prevent postpartum uterine disease. We only briefly discuss the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of uterine disease because there are recent reviews available [2,4,6]. Instead, we focus on how preventing postpartum uterine disease depends on avoiding, tolerating and resisting infections with pathogenic bacteria.…”

“…After parturition, it is important to monitor animal health carefully, particularly for cows at risk of disease. Veterinary examination of the reproductive tract is useful to identify animals with disease that may need treatment [6]. However, the routine use of antimicrobials in animals at risk of uterine disease is no longer acceptable because of the risk of antimicrobial resistance.…”

“…Theriogenology published a set of definitions for postpartum uterine diseases in cattle in 2006 [1]. Since then, there has been increased understanding about the incidence and consequences of the main uterine diseases -metritis and endometritis -and their etiology and pathogenesis [2][3][4][5][6]. However, it is less clear why some dairy cows develop postpartum uterine disease, whilst others cows exposed to the same pathogens do not develop disease.…”