Defining Postpartum Uterine Disease and the Mechanisms of Infection and Immunity in the Female Reproductive Tract in Cattle1

Abstract

Uterine microbial disease affects half of all dairy cattle after parturition, causing infertility by disrupting uterine and ovarian function. Infection with Escherichia coli, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, and bovine herpesvirus 4 causes endometrial tissue damage. Toll-like receptors on endometrial cells detect pathogen-associated molecules such as bacterial DNA, lipids, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), leading to secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptides. Chemokines attract neutrophils and macrophages to eliminate the bacteria, although persistence of neutrophils is associated with subclinical endometritis and infertility. Cows with uterine infections are less likely to ovulate because they have slower growth of the postpartum dominant follicle in the ovary, lower peripheral plasma estradiol concentrations, and perturbation of hypothalamic and pituitary function. The follicular fluid of animals with endometritis contains LPS, which is detected by the TLR4/CD14/LY96 (MD2) receptor complex on granulosa cells, leading to lower aromatase expression and reduced estradiol secretion. If cows with uterine disease ovulate, the peripheral plasma concentrations of progesterone are lower than those in normal animals. However, luteal phases are often extended in animals with uterine disease, probably because infection switches the endometrial epithelial secretion of prostaglandins from the F series to the E series by a phospholipase A2-mediated mechanism, which would disrupt luteolysis. The regulation of endometrial immunity depends on steroid hormones, somatotrophins, and local regulatory proteins. Advances in knowledge about infection and immunity in the female genital tract should be exploited to develop new therapeutics for uterine disease.

Perfil metabólico de vacas Jersey clinicamente saudáveis

“…Retenção de placenta: diagnosticada de acordo com Williams et al (2005) e Sheldon et al (2009), quando não havia eliminado as membranas fetais em até 12 horas transcorridas do parto (Ferreira 2010, Rezende 2013.…”

“…Metrite: diagnosticada até os 21 DPP, pelo aumento de volume uterino, sendo classificada em leve (útero aumentado de volume, associado à descarga uterina achocolatada purulenta, apresentando ou não odor fétido, sem a presença de sinais sistêmicos), moderada (quando além dos sinais citados anteriormente havia hipertermia, queda na produção leiteira e apatia) e grave (presença de toxemia, inapetência e depressão) de acordo com o proposto por Sheldon et al (2009) Hipocalcemia: quando em até 72 horas pós-parto apresentavam paresia de membros posteriores com dificuldade para se levantarem ou mesmo não conseguiam se levantar (González et al 2014).…”

Bovine P-selectin mediates leukocyte adhesion and is highly polymorphic in dairy breeds

“…The condition is caused through a variety of contributing factors, such as endometritis (Sheldon et al, 2009), irregularities in the oestrous cycle (Bulman and Lamming, 1978) and high rates of early embryo mortality (Diskin and Morris, 2008). Similar to mastitis, there is evidence for the involvement of selectins in all of these processes.…”

The utility of sensor technology to support reproductive management on dairy farms

“…Diseases like retained placenta, metritis and other inflammations in and around the uterus are related to the calving process (Fourichon, et al, 2000, Rajala-Schultz and Grohn, 1999, Sheldon, et al, 2009), but it is hard to estimate the effect of the use of a sensor system on such diseases. Since retained placenta by itself was not assumed to be a problem, only the costs of metritis were taken into account while the effect on reproduction was simulated separately.…”

“…For cows, the likelihood of conception decreases as the number of days open increases (Fourichon, et al, 2000), and culling risk is higher (Rajala-Schultz and Grohn, 1999) within a lactation that starts with a dystotic calving. Moreover, dystocia increases the risk of damage to the uterus and infections, which increases the risk of metritis (Rajala-Schultz and Grohn, 1999, Sheldon, et al, 2009. Dystocia is therefore a health and welfare problem for both cows and calves.…”