dairy uterine health Flashcards
post partum uterine diseases in the cow are largely a result of _____. these risk factors play a role in this.
impaired immune function
- DMI
- metabolic health
- stressors and hormonal changes
- hypocalcemia
why is there immune suppression at calving?
- cortisol released from fetus to signal parturition
- NEB (as NEFA and BHBA go up, neutrophil function goes down)
- E2 increasing
tissue remodelling (mammary gland for lactogenesis, separation of cotyledon and caruncle, lipolysis) causes 4 things. what are they?
- increase oxidative stress
- decrease immune cell function
- increase pro-inflammatory cytokines
- increase acute phase proteins
what are the risk factors for uterine dz?
- species of bacteria (virulence factors, strain)
- level of contamination
- DMI
- E and lipid metabolic health
- stressors and hormonal changes
- hypocalcemia
balancing acts between immune response and bacterial contamination
dairy cattle need to eat ____ DM before calving for proper immune function. then it needs to be increased to ____ a day after calving for proper immune function.
22lbs, 50 lbs
who is affected by retained fetal membranes?
any bovine, but esp dairy cattle
incidence ranges from 5-15% in dairy catle
what is retained fetal membranes?
failure to pass fetal membranes within 24 hours after calving
failure of cotyledons to separate from caruncles
why do retained fetal membranes happen?
- neutrophil dysfunction (immune response and regulation)
additionally:
- abortion
- premature birth
- hydrops
- uterine torsion
- twinning
- dystocia
- induction of labor
- vitamin and mineral deficiencies (esp Vit E and selenium)
what is needed to separate cotyledons from caruncles?
neutrophils!
true or false: retained fetal membranes is a disease of “lack of squeezing”.
false!
it is a disease of neutrophil dysfunction
what are the C/S of retained fetal membranes?
- protrusion of fetal membranes hanging ventrally from vulva
- tenesmus
- fetid odour
how do you manage retained fetal membranes in the cow?
- most RFM’s separate and fall away 3-12 days after calving IF UNTREATED
- cows with RFM that had dystocia, twinning, obesity, or induced parturition should be considered high risk for development of dystocia –> more justified prophylactic therapy
- tx indicated if cow becomes systemically ill, usually due to metritis
- treatments are not effective
should you use oxytocin, PGF2alpha, or manual removal of fetal membranes to help retained placenta in cows? why or why not?
nope!
oxytocin: disease not due to lack of contractions, so oxytocin won’t help
PGF2alpha: CL needed to respond to this, and they don’t have CL until day 30 postpartum
manual removal: prolapse and hemorrhage can occur
what is metritis?
inflammation of ALL layers of the uterus within 21 days of calving
who is most at risk for metritis?
- cows that had a retained placenta and were exposed to all the same risk factors as those without retained placenta
- primiparous >multiparous
- 10-20% dairy cattle affected
what is the relationship bt DMI and metritis?
insufficient DMI prior to calving –> NEB –> poor immune function –> higher incidence of postpartum metritis
what are the C/S of metritis?
- foul smelling uterine discharge
- ± systemic illness (fever, dullness, inappetence, tachycardia)
- C/S typically appear w/i 1 week of calving, and almost always before 2 weeks after calving
tell me about the bac t involved with metritis
- early uterine infection by E. coli
- gram (-) anaerobes by 3-7 days post-calving (ex. F. necrophorum, Bacteriodes)
- Truperella pyogenes in more chronic infections
how can you dx metritis?
- rectal exam –> looking for flaccid or atonic uterus w/ fluid distention, physometra, gentle raking of uterus yield brown-tinged, foul-smelling discharge, pain on palpation
- Metricheck device –> insert into vag, push up to cervix, sweep, do visual check
if cow is systemically ill, no need to Metricheck
how do you assign scores of the Metricheck discharge?
0: clear or transcluent mucus
1: mucus containing flecks of white/off-white pus
2: discharge containing ≤50% white/off-white mucopurulent discharge
3: discharge containing ≥50% purulent material, usually white or sanguineous
how do you perform odour scoring of vag discharge?
0: no smell
3: rotten/putrid smell
either 0 or 3, no in-between ?!
how do you treat metritis?
- cows w/ metritis & toxemia: ABs, fluids, NSAIDs
- cows w/ metritis score >2 (visual + odour) + temp >39.5: systemic ABs
no clear evidence that intrauterine therapies are effective
Which ABs do you use to treat metritis?
Ceftiofur, ampicillin, penicillin
common to see penicillin G
what are the expected outcomes of metritis tx?
- absence of fever in 80-100% of cows 2-6 days after tx
- absence of fetid discharge after tx
- no difference in pregnancy rate b/t ceftiofur and ampicillin
true or false: cows are systemically ill with inflammation of the endometrium, with purulent vaginal discharge, and with cervicitis
false! not systemically ill with any of these diseases
what is the definition of purulent vaginal discharge (PVD)?
purulent or mucopurulent vaginal discharge
lmao
where is the likely origin of Purulent Vaginal Discharge?
cervix (cervicitis)
how can you diagnose purulent vaginal discharge?
- clinical (can be seen with discharge or Metricheck)
- cervical diameter >7.5 cm
who gets purulent vaginal discharge the most?
15-30% of dairy cows