Bovine Postpartem Reproductive Problems Flashcards
Normal postpartum involution
Process of restoration of reproductive tract to ability to support subsequent pregnancy
-shrinkage and repair of uterus and cervix
-Sloughing of caruncles ( lochia) and re-epithelialization of endometrium
-Clearance of bacterial contamination within 3 weeks
-Ideally: Gross – 21 d Histologic – 40 d
what is uterine prolapse associated with
-Associated with hypocalcemia, therefore older cows
-Thought to be due to lack of smooth muscle ‘tone’
treatment and prognosis of uterine prolapse in cows
Treatment
-Epidural and manual replacement
-If recumbent = ‘frog leg’ posture (see next slide)
Prognosis: good for survival, less for
pregnancy
-Some die from ruptured uterine artery, often after correction
treatment details for uterine prolapse in cows (12)
-Epidural
-If recumbent = ‘frog leg’
-If marked edema = apply dextrose or sugar
-Rinse with clean saline
-Place uterus on a clean sheet
-Elevate
-Circumferentially push back in (easier said…)
-Invert back to normal position (Extend reach with a smooth bottle)
-Stitch vulva for 3-5 d (at lateral hair line)
~~Buhner purse string
~~Prolapse pins
-Calcium supplement SC or bolus
-Systemic antibiotics e.g. penicillin
-Oxytocin 20 IU IM
when is a placenta considered retained in cows
-Failure to expel fetal membranes by 24 h post calving
-Common (5 to 10% of calvings) in dairy cows
risk factors for retained placenta in cows (6)
-Dystocia
-Twins
-Abortion
-Milk fever
-Caesarian section
-Induced delivery
pathogenesis of a retained placenta?
-Key element in pathogenesis is impaired immune function = failure of detachment of placentome
what does placental detachment rely on
-Placental detachment depends on
neutrophils to break the collagen links between caruncle and cotyledon
is RP a disease of uterine pushing?
-Balance of evidence is against lack of
uterine motility as the cause of RP; Uterine motility is normal to increased in cows with RP
neutrophils in cows with RP
-Immune function is greatly reduced in cows with RP
-Neutrophils from cows with RP have = chemotaxis at calving and = killing capacity prepartum
-Reductions in neutrophil function are present 7-14 days prepartum
what is RP a risk factor for
RP is a major risk factor for subsequent metritis, PVD, and/or
endometritis; displaced abomasum (?) (secondary to feed intake?)
is a RP directly harmful
no
what does the impact of an RP depend on
Impact of RP depends on ability of cow’s immune system to deal with
it
how many cows with an RP develop metritis
33 to >50%
treatment for metritis
-NOT oxytocin, PGF, or calcium
-No good evidence of benefits of intrauterine (IU) antibiotics
-Systemic antibiotics if/when metritis occurs
what lies between physiology and pathology of challenges in cows
-Almost all cows have bacterial contamination of the uterus after calving
-The same immune system mediators appear to be involved in healthy and affected cows
-Difference lies in the magnitude, regulation, duration and effectiveness of the response
what are cows typically infected with PP?
-Typically mixed infections but E. coli is a common agent in week 1 and
Trueperella pyogenes in weeks 2‐3
risk factors to uterine disease (6)
-Feed intake
-Energy and lipid metabolic health
-Stressors & hormonal changes
-Hypocalcemia
-Species of bacteria; Virulence factors
and Strain
-Level of contamination
what are the primary effectors of PP uterine defence
neutrophils
what is pyometra and what is present
-Uterus filled with pus (few hundred mL to several litres)
-In the presence of a (persistent) CL
diagnosis and treatment of pyometra in cows
-Diagnosed > 3 weeks postpartum; mostly 1 to 3 months pp
-Diagnosed by rectal palpation or ultrasound
-Treatment: PGF injection(s) (Repeated at 10-14 d interval)
are pyometras in cows normally open or closed
Almost always ‘closed’ (cervix)
what is metritis
-Cow is systemically ill (fever, off feed)
-fetid uterine discharge is watery, red-brown, and foul smelling (anaerobic bacteria)
~~Normal discharge is thick, often red (lochia)
what type of problem is metritis?
largely a problem of PP immune function
when do you see metritis
< 10 DIM
prevalence and treatment of metritis
-affects 5-20% of cows depending on means/intensity of diagnosis
-treatment; systemic antibiotics (ceftiofur, penicillin, etc)
is PVD the same as endometritis
no
PVD; diagnosis, associated with what, treatment
-Metricheck
-Associated with: Trueperella pyogenes and Endometrial trauma
-Treatment = Cephapirin IU. Partially to fully restores pregnancy at first AI. 2 injections of PGF, 2 weeks apart, may improve reproduction modestly
endometritis; diagnosis, associated with what, treatment
-Cytology
-Not associated with concurrent bacterial infection
-Hypothesis: dysregulation of postpartum inflammation
-Treatment = we dont know
cystic ovarian condition; what is it, what happens from it
-Follicle that fails to ovulate or regress and grows to abnormal size (>2.5cm diameter)
* The ovum in a cyst will age and be infertile
what causes cystic ovarian condition
Problem is lack of LH surge; associated with excessive negative energy balance
treatment of cystic ovarian condition
Treatment: Induce LH surge (Ovsynch) with supplemental P4
Prevention of postpartum reproductive disease
-Prevention of reproductive tract disease currently relies on non-specific measures
-Implementation of best management practices for transition cows will plausibly improve metabolic health, immune function, and regulation of inflammation
