Uterine Health and Disorders

Abstract

Nonspecific uterine infections reduce the reproductive efficiency of cows and the profit potential of dairy farms. Fortunately, most cows do not develop severe uterine infections. The term uterine infection indicates that the uterus is contaminated with pathogenic organisms. Actinomyces pyogenes, either alone or with other bacteria, is often associated with uterine infections. When A. pyogenes was isolated from uterine fluids after d 21 postpartum, cows developed severe endometritis and were infertile at first service. However, the exact causes of uterine infections are unknown but are associated with several factors. Cows with dystocia, retained placenta, twins or still-births, and various metabolic disorders are more likely to develop metritis than are other cows. Aberrant immune function before and after calving seems to predispose cows to severe uterine infections. Few cows die from uterine infections, but cows with uterine infections are more likely to be culled for poor reproductive performance. Also, uterine infections can reduce milk production, and some treatments contaminate milk. Because they are nonspecific, uterine infections are difficult to prevent; attention to sanitation and periparturient hygiene, especially during assisted calving, may be the best defense. Evidence that aberrant immuno function predisposes cows to uterine infections indicates that methods for regulating immune function in periparturient cows have the potential for preventing or treating uterine infections.

Bacterial Pathogens and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Cervico-Vaginal Discharges in Cross Bred Repeat Breeding Heifer Cows

“…Most of these bacterial contaminations get eliminated during the first 5 weeks after parturition, but the remaining causes the uterine infection in some cows (Noakes et al, 2009;Sheldon et al, 2006). Common bacteria isolated from cows with uterine infections are Trueperella pyogenes, Prevotella sp., Fusobacterium necrophorum and Escherichia coli (Sheldon et al, 2006;Lewis, 1997;Smith et al, 1998;Overton et al, 2003and Sheldon et al, 2004.…”

Aislamiento e identificación de la flora bacteriana uterina en vacas donantes de embriones

“…Un hallazgo importante de las infecciones bacterianas es su relación con el estado endocrino del animal, así bajo el predominio de la progesterona se suprime los mecanismos de defensa uterina, por lo tanto la formación del primer cuerpo lúteo después del parto y la secreción de progesterona anteceden la presencia de enfermedad uterina (Lewis 1997;2004). Es necesario aclarar que en el presente estudio, se evidenció la presencia de infección uterina, más no la presencia de enfermedad uterina la cual no estaba dentro de los propósitos del mismo.…”

Influence of pathogenic bacteria species present in the postpartum bovine uterus on proteome profiles

“…Sheldon et al (2009) identified the most prevalent bacteria as Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Prevotella melaninogenica and Proteus species but found no interaction between the pathogenic group present and the severity of intrauterine infection. Arcanobacterium pyogenes, now reclassified as Trueperella pyogenes (Yassin et al 2011), is an opportunistic pathogen of domestic ruminants and, either alone or with other bacteria, is commonly associated with bovine uterine infections (Griffin et al 1974;Lewis 1997). Repeated postpartum uterine sampling showed that T. pyogenes was the most common bacterial species isolated between 8 and 42 days postpartum (DPP) and was the most prevalent organism isolated in cows with severe endometritis (69% of severe cases); however, it was extremely rare after 21 DPP in cows that conceived to first service (Williams et al 2005).…”