Bacterial contamination of the uterus in cows with various clinical types of metritis and endometritis and use of hydrogen peroxide for intrauterine treatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The relationship of various clinical forms of uterine inflammation to bacterial contamination and the applicability of hydrogen peroxide for intrauterine treatment of clinical endometritis was the subject of this trial. Uterine contamination was compared among groups of cows according to clinical findings on days 10 ± 3 (mild or severe puerperal metritis and controls without symptoms of the disease: MM, n = 16 or SM, n = 8 and CM, n = 13) and 25 ± 3 (mild or severe clinical endometritis and controls without symptoms of the disease: ME, n = 28 or SE, n = 40 and CE, n = 10). The applicability of 3% hydrogen peroxide was evaluated on the basis of macroscopic examination of intact and closed uteri from slaughtered cows after infusion of 50, 80, and 100 ml of the solution, clinical as well as bacteriological examination of uteri in cows suffering from clinical endometritis (Group E1 -treatment for the first time, n = 18 and Group E2 -previous treatment for retained placenta or puerperal metritis, n = 12) before and seven days after intrauterine administration of 80 ml of the solution as well as subsequent reproductive performance of treated cows in comparison with untreated controls without symptoms of the disease (Group C, n = 20). A wider bacterial spectrum was found in the cows on day 10 ± 3 compared to day 25 ± 3. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was the main uterine contaminant in cows suffering from all clinical types of uterine inflammation while this bacterium was not shown to be present in any of the control cows (MM 7/16 and SM 6/8 vs. CM 0/13, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; ME 14/28 and SE 18/40 vs. CE 0/10, P < 0.05). No macroscopic changes in uteri were found after infusion of various volumes of 3% hydrogen peroxide, only gas infiltration to the surrounding tissue occurred in completely closed uteri after deposition of 100 ml of the solution. Clinical symptoms of endometritis disappeared in 83% (E1) and 67% (E2) of affected cows and bacterial contamination decreased markedly (but not significantly) in both groups up to day 7 after intrauterine treatment. Reproductive parameters in treated cows compared to controls were not different. The results show an important role of A. pyogenes in the etiopathogenesis of all clinical forms of uterine inflammations in postpartum cows and support the use of 3% hydrogen peroxide for intrauterine treatment of clinical endometritis even though sufficient antibacterial effects of the treatment are still to be confirmed.

Characterization of buffalo interleukin 8 (IL-8) and its expression in endometritis

“…Pathogenic bacteria were reported to play an important role in the process of occurrence and deterioration of endometritis [28]. Uterine bacterial contamination and uterine inflammation cause damage to the endometrium and embryo, delay ovulation, shorten or extend luteal phase after ovulation, increase time to first insemination, decrease conception rates, increase time to conception, and increase pregnancy loss [9]. It causes economic losses due to longer calving intervals, increased culling rates and the costs of treatment and extra services [17].…”

“…They suggested that a lower local level of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the endometrium soon after calving might impair activation of inflammation and clearance of bacteria, and lead to development of endometritis. This fact was studied in postpartum infections of the endometrium and metritis that were reported to be the common causes of delayed conception and infertility in cattle [1], [9], [10]. A study of different cytokines in postpartum cows with endometritis, single chemokine, such as IL-8, was found to be sufficient to monitor uterine inflammation and its expression may be useful to predict endometrial inflammation [18].…”

Uterine bacterial flora in postpartum Danish Holstein dairy cows determined using DNA-based fingerprinting: Correlation to uterine condition and calving management

“…Among pathogenic bacteria, A. pyogenes is often related to a serious effect on reproduction (Griffin et al, 1974;Huszenicza et al, 1999;Williams et al, 2005). In some studies the bacterial flora in the uterus of cattle changes in composition and amount within the first weeks after calving (Bekana et al, 1996;Dolezel et al, 2010;Hussain et al, 1990). It remains to be shown if knowledge of the uterine bacterial status of a cow during the first two weeks p.p.…”

Comparative characteristics of different methods of prevention and treatment of post-medical diseases in cows

“…Другою за поширеністю причиною патологічних родів є неправильні взаєморозміщення плоду у родових шляхах. Так, у 2017 році -2 випадки, що склало 28,57%, у 2018 році -1 (12,5), у 2019 році -2 (22,22%) від загальної кількості патологічних родів.…”