Post partum disease in cattle Flashcards
What happens between calving and successful establishment of next pregnancy?
1) involution of the uterus (after expulsion of calf and placenta)
2) restoration of the endometrium
3) resumption of ovarian cyclicity
4) Insemination
5) Fertilisation = conception in a timely manner
6) Maintenance of the pregnancy
7) Calve again
What happens to the endometrium post-partum?
- 48hrs post partum = septal mass, stretched stratum compactum + thick myometrium
- 5 days post partum = sloughing of necrotic septal mass
- 10-15 days post partum = necrotic septal mass sloughed + vascular stubs on stratum compactum
- 19 days post partum = smooth surface of stratum compactum + shrinking
What needs to be avoided with a c-section?
- Avoid caruncles = V vascular
When does resumption of cyclicity occur?
Puberty
Onset of seasonal breeding (N/A in cows)
Recovery from NEB
Post parturition - cows have increase in FSH which stimulate follicular wave
What is normal ovarian function post-partum in cows?
Low progesterone and oestrogen after calving
Resumption of FSH surges increases within 3-5 days, at 7-10 day intervals
1st post partum follicle wave –> 1st Dominant Follicle
Does the 1st Dominant Follicle ovulate?
- yes if sufficient E2 from the DF for LH/FSH surge
-Capacity for E2 secretion depends on =
1. size of DF
2. LH pulse frequency (nutrition, health)
3. IGF-I bioavailability (nutrition)
What can be used for oestrus detection?
- Visual observation
- Tail-head markers (stickers/chalk)
- Activity meters
- Progesterone monitoring
- External technician (single job to do)
- Bull/Teaser bull
What occurs with embryogenesis?
- Day 0 = fertilization
- Day 1 = 2-cell
- Day 1.5 = 4-cell
- Day 7-12 = blastocyst
- Day 13-35 = elongated blastocyst
What are reasons for failure of fertilisation + embryonic loss?
- Failure of fertilisation - AI technique/timing, oocyte quality/health
- Uterine environment
- Infectious agents (BVD, BHV1, Lepto, Campy)
- Metabolic status of dam / nutrition (Pre/post calving)
- Genetic abnormality of embryo
What goes wrong after calving as seen by the farmer / vet?
- Retained Foetal Membranes
- Metritis / Endometritis
- Cystic ovarian disease
- Failure to resume ovarian cyclicity = non-buller/NSB/ONO (or failure of detection???)
- Return to oestrus (on time or not on time) Insufficient IFT production = fails to implant = Embryonic death (early / late)
- Abortion
What are different uterine infections?
- Metritis
- Endometritis
- Pyometra
What are the consequences of uterine infections?
- Damage the uterus
- Suppress hypothalamic GnRH + pituitary LH secretion
- Have localised effects on ovarian function
What are the main pathogens for uterine infections?
- E.coli (Gram Neg)
- Truperella pyogenes (Gram Pos)
- Dichelobacter nodosus (Gram Neg)
- Fusobacterium necrophorum (Gram Neg)
- (BoHV4)
What are risk factors for uterine bacterial infection? (in order)
- Retained foetal membranes
- Abortion
- Dystocia
- Twins
- Induction
- Milk fever
- Multiparous (older cow)
What is metritis?
- an abnormally enlarged uterus and purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina, within 21 days after parturition
What are the grades of metritis?
- Grade 1 = enlarged uterus and a purulent uterine discharge but no pyrexia
- Grade 2 = ‘puerperal metritis’ - overt systemic illness (decreased milk yield, fever, >39.5oC, reduced appetite)
- Grade 3 = ‘toxaemic metritis’ - signs of toxaemia (cold extremities, dullness)
What is the definition of pyometra?
- Accumulation of purulent material within the uterine lumen in the presence of a corpus luteum and a closed cervix
How can you diagnose a pyometra?
- Enlarged uterus
- CL
- Ultrasound for pus
How would you treat a pyometra?
- PGF
What is clinical endometritis?
- the presence of a purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina 21 days or more post partum
What is seen with pyometra on ultrasound?
- Grey matter in lumen on cross section
- Speckled content
What is the effect of endometritis on fertility?
- Prolongs time between calving and getting pregnant
- Increased number of serves per conception
- Prolongs time between calving and first service
What is sub-clinical endometritis?
What are risk factors?
- Immune cells in uterus when flushed with saline / cytobrush (affect 5-50% of herd)
- Risk factors =
- negative energy balance / ketosis
- metritis
What is cystic ovarian disease? What is seen?
- Follicular (FC) or Luteal ‘cysts’ (LC)
- Anoestrus = nymphomania
- Usually <60 DIM
What are factors associated with cystic ovarian disease?
- High milk production
- NEB and ketosis; raised NEFAs
- Higher parity - older cows
- Twinning and periparturient problems
- Excess BCS at drying off
- Genetic predisposition
What are follicular cysts?
- Follicle that fails to ovulate + keeps growing
- May produce oestradiol = irregular / excessive oestrus behaviour
- If CL >2cm present at same time = FC hormonally inactive = Tx directed at CL
What do follicular cyst look like?
- Thin wall <3mm
- Fluid filled
- Internal diameter >25mm
- Duration = 10 days
What do luteal cysts look like?
- > 25mm external diameter
- Thick wall >3mm
- Fluid filled lacuna
- Duration = 10 days
- Luteinised follicular cyst
How would you treat follicular cysts?
- Burst
- GnRH
- Progesterone (PRID/CIDR)
- Aspirate
- Leave alone
- Check on next farm visit
How would you treat luteal cysts?
- Prostaglandin
