Effect of intrauterine infusion of ceftiofur on uterine health and fertility in dairy cows

Abstract

Objectives were to determine the effects of intrauterine (i.u.) infusion of ceftiofur hydrochloride on uterine health and fertility of dairy cows already receiving PGF(2alpha) for estrous synchronization. Holstein cows at 44 +/- 3 d in milk (DIM) were blocked by parity and diagnosis of metritis in the first 14 DIM and of other illnesses and, within each block, randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: a single i.u. infusion of 125 mg of ceftiofur hydrochloride at 44 +/- 3 DIM (ceftiofur, n = 396), or no i.u. infusion (control, n = 416). All cows received 25 mg of PGF(2alpha) at 37 +/- 3 and 51 +/- 3 DIM as part of an estrous synchronization protocol. A subset of 547 cows was evaluated for clinical endometritis immediately before treatment, and 202 cows had an aseptic uterine sample collected before the injection of PGF(2alpha) at 51 +/- 3 DIM for bacteriology and diagnosis of subclinical endometritis (> or =5% neutrophils). Pregnancy on d 38 +/- 3 and 180 +/- 7 after the first artificial insemination, pregnancy loss, and interval from calving to pregnancy in the first 300 DIM were evaluated. The proportions of cows diagnosed with clinical endometritis before treatment were similar between ceftiofur and control treatments. Intrauterine infusion with ceftiofur did not influence prevalence of subclinical endometritis and positive uterine culture 7 d after treatment; however, it reduced the prevalence of positive uterine culture in cows with clinical endometritis (29.0 vs. 51.4%) and reduced the overall prevalence of Arcanobacterium pyogenes (1.0 vs. 7.6%) at 51 +/- 3 DIM. Cows with clinical endometritis had increased prevalence of A. pyogenes (10.3 vs. 1.5%), Escherichia coli (5.9 vs. 0.75%), and overall positive uterine culture (41.2 vs. 22.4%); however, cows with subclinical endometritis only had an increased prevalence of A. pyogenes (10.2 vs. 1.5%). Ceftiofur did not affect pregnancy per artificial insemination in all cows or in cows previously diagnosed with metritis or clinical endometritis. Interval to pregnancy was similar for control and ceftiofur cows. Intrauterine infusion of ceftiofur hydrochloride reduced the prevalence of uterine infection in cows with clinical endometritis, and the prevalence of A. pyogenes, but did not affect the prevalence of subclinical endometritis or fertility of dairy cows already receiving PGF(2alpha).

Diagnosis and Treatment of Postpartum Uterine Diseases in Dairy Cows: A Review With Emphasis on Subclinical Endometritis

“…Más de una cuarta parte tratamiento con antibióticos intrauterinos [98,100]. de las vacas lecheras modernas inseminadas sufren Por otro lado, Galvão, Greco [101] no ha podido de CITO, con un efecto perjudicial sustancial sobre la demostrar ningún beneficio a través de un fertilidad (tasa de concepción en muestras CITO tratamiento intrauterino con antibióticos. negativas 47% frente a 32,7% en muestras CITO Recientemente, hemos demostrado la posibilidad de positivas).…”

Recent advances in the immunology and uterine microbiology of healthy cows and cows that develop uterine disease

“…In conclusion, subcutaneous vaccination with inactivated bacterial components and/or protein subunits of E. coli, F. necrophorum, and T. pyogenes can prevent puerperal metritis during the first lactation of dairy cows, leading to improved reproduction. The combined effect of bacterial infection and activation of inflammation is damage to the endometrium and embryo (99)(100)(101), delayed ovulation (67), shortened or extended luteal phase after ovulation (60,61,63,102), increased time to first insemination, decreased conception rates, increased time to conception (8,(103)(104)(105)(106), and increased pregnancy loss (106)(107)(108). Therefore, the best strategy to deal with the negative effects of uterine disease is to not have the disease in the first place.…”

“…Clinical endometritis also affects about 20.0% of lactating dairy cows, with the prevalence ranging from 5% to >30% in some herds (8)(9)(10). Subclinical endometritis is the most prevalent of all uterine diseases; it affects ~30% of lactating dairy cows, with the prevalence ranging from 11% to >70% in some herds (8,11,12). These diseases have been associated with decreased pregnancy per artificial insemination (AI), extended interval to pregnancy, increased culling, and economic losses (4,12,13).…”

“…Nonetheless, with the decrease in immune function and the large bacterial challenge, the system is overwhelmed, and uterine diseases such as metritis, clinical endometritis, and subclinical endometritis are established in a large proportion of cows in early postpartum. Metritis affects about 20% of lactating dairy cows, with the incidence ranging from 8% to >40% in some farms (5)(6)(7)(8). Clinical endometritis also affects about 20.0% of lactating dairy cows, with the prevalence ranging from 5% to >30% in some herds (8)(9)(10).…”

“…Metritis affects about 20% of lactating dairy cows, with the incidence ranging from 8% to >40% in some farms (5)(6)(7)(8). Clinical endometritis also affects about 20.0% of lactating dairy cows, with the prevalence ranging from 5% to >30% in some herds (8)(9)(10). Subclinical endometritis is the most prevalent of all uterine diseases; it affects ~30% of lactating dairy cows, with the prevalence ranging from 11% to >70% in some herds (8,11,12).…”