Bovine Postpartum Reproductive Disorders Flashcards
what types of diseases occur at calving, between 1-10 days after calving, and several weeks after calving
at calving: prolapse, retained placenta (RT)
between 1-10 days: metritis
weeks after calving: pyometra, purulent vaginal discharge (PVD), endometritis
what process occurs in parallel with return to cyclicity
postpartum involution
what does involution entail: (3)
1) shrinking and repair of uterus and cervix
2) sloughing of caruncles and re-epithelialization of endometrium
3) clearance of bacterial contamination within 3 weeks
involution should ideally take how many days:
1) grossly:
2) histologically:
grossly: 21d
histologically: 40d
why is there a voluntary waiting period for dairy cows and how long is this period
lasts 50 days; to allow for involution and repair to occur
what is the definition of uterine prolapse
full eversion of the uterus and cervix
what is uterine prolapse associated with
hypocalcemia (older cows) -> lack of smooth muscle tone
what is the treatment of uterine prolapse
- epidural
- manual replacement
what is the prognosis for uterine prolapse
good for survival, less for pregnancy
some die from a ruptured uterine artery after correction
how can we more effectively treat uterine prolapse in a recumbent cow
frog leg posture -> tilts pelvis downwards
what can you do if a cow has a uterine prolapse with marked edema
apply a dextrose or sugar solution to help shrink
what are the steps for correcting uterine prolapse
1) rinse with saline +/- add dextrose or sugar
2) place uterus on clean sheet
3) elevate
4) circumferentially push uterus back in
5) extend reach with bottle
6) stitch vulva for 3-5 days
what two methods can we use to keep the vulva closed and prevent another uterine prolapse
- buhner purse string
- prolapse pins
what treatments do we give a cow with a uterine prolapse
- calcium bolus or SC
- systemic antibiotics
- oxytocin (20 IU IM) ONCE BACK INSIDE
what is the definition of retained placenta
failure to expel the fetal membranes by 24h post calving
how common is retained placenta in dairy cows
5-10% of all calvings
what are 6 risk factors for RP
1) dystocia
2) twins
3) abortion
4) milk fever
5) c-section
6) induced delivery
what is a key element in the pathogenesis of retained placenta and what does this mean in terms of treatment
impaired immune function -> failure of detachment of placentome
this means that increasing uterine motility (oxytocin, prostaglandin) will NOT help
what breaks down the links between caruncle and cotyledon
neutrophils
Despite the recognized risk factors around calving, the mechanism for RP is in place well before. What evidence is there to support this claim?
- neutrophils in these cows have reduced chemotaxis at calving and reduced killing capacity prepartum
- reductions in neutrophil function are present 1-2 weeks prepartum
- feed intake is reduced 1 week prepartum
T/F RP in itself is immediately harmful and unpleasant for the cow
F; unpleasant but not immediately harmful in itself
the impact of RP depends on:
the ability of the cow’s immune system
RP is a major risk factor for (4)
- metritis
- purulent vaginal discharge
- endometritis
- possibly displaced abomasum
what is the treatment for RP
systemic antibiotics, if/when metritis occurs
what percentage of cows with RP will develop metritis
up to >50%
T/F the same immune system mediators are involved in both healthy and affected cows postpartum, but the difference lies in the magnitude, regulation, duration, and effectiveness of the response
T
______________ is a common agent of infection in week ___ and _______________ in week(s) ___________
E. coli; 1; Trueperella pyogenes; 2-3
what type of bacteria (aerobic or anaerobic) is important for uterine infection postpartum
anaerobes
PVD is associated with chronic ___________ infection in weeks ___________
T. pyogenes; >3-8
what are some bacterial risk factors for uterine disease
1) amount of contamination
2) species of bacteria (virulence factors, strain)
what are some immune response/inflammatory risk factors for uterine disease
- feed intake
- energy and lipid metabolic health
- stressors and hormonal changes
- hypocalcemia
what is the most important type of immunity postpartum
innate (although all defenses are present)
describe what happens based on the following inflammatory response:
- excessive inflammation
- inadequate response
- bacteria > inflammatory response
- endometritis
- PVD
- metritis
__________ are understood to be the primary effectors of the postpartum uterine defense
neutrophils
in its simplest form, what is pyometra
uterus filled with pus in the presence of a CL
when does pyometra occur
> 21 days postpartum (have to return to cycling)
most pyometras are what type in cows and what does this imply
closed; no systemic illness or fever
pyometra is (common/uncommon) in cows and is usually diagnosed ______ postpartum by _______ palpation or ________
uncommon; 1-3 months; rectal palpation; ultrasound
how do you treat pyometra
PGF injections repeated 10-14d interval
when does metritis occur
<10 DIM
how does metritis differ from pyometra
- no CL
- systemic illness (fever, off feed)
- fetid vaginal discharge (unlike closed pyometra)
- more common
describe the uterine discharge produced by metritis
watery, red-brown, foul smelling
overgrowth of what type of bacteria is associated with metritis
G- anaerobic bacteria
how do we treat metritis
systemic antibiotics (ceftiofur, ampicillin, penicillin)
cows with metritis have what changes during the pre and post partum periods, BEFORE developing the disease
- lower DMI
- decreased neutrophil killing activity
endometritis and PVD each effect what percentage of cows
15-20%
endometritis and PVD are associated with what
decreased fertiltiy
T/F PVD and endometritis are the same
F; but they can occur concurrently
PVD and endometritis have different _________ but additive effects on (2)
risk factors; reproduction, time to pregnancy and pregnancy loss
what is co- or independent factor in many cases of PVD and endometritis
cervicitis
PVD:
- how do we diagnose
- associated with
- treatment
- metricheck
- endometrial trauma, T pyogenes
- cephapirin IU (local antibiotics); can give PGF2a 2 weeks apart to try to improve reproduction
Endometritis:
- how do we diagnose
- associated with?
- treatment
- cytology
- dysregulated inflammation (NOT associated with bacterial infection)
- ????
PVD is located in the vagina but infection typically comes from
uterus or cervix
why is it that when endometritis or PVD has been resolved, there are still lasting effects on fertility
infection and pus impacts luteolysis; the follicle trying to ovulate would have been growing in the unhospitable environment of the infected uterus/ovary
animals that had endometritis or PVD are less likely to (4)
- cycle
- go into heat
- get pregnant
- stay pregnant
what is cystic ovarian disease
a follicle that fails to ovulate or regress and grows to over 2.5cm in diameter
what causes cystic ovarian disease
lack of an LH surge, associated with excessive negative energy balance
T/F cystic ovarian disease is caused by persist cysts that stop the estrus cycle
F
T/F most cysts resolve within 1 month and never recur
F; may recur
how do we treat cystic ovarian disease
induce LH surge (OvSynch) with supplemental progesterone
prevention of reproductive tract disease currently relies on
non-specific measures; best management practices for transition cows will improve
