Relationships between endometritis and metabolic state during the transition period in pasture-grazed dairy cows

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to identify relationships between endometritis and metabolic state during the calving transition and early lactation periods. A subset of mixed age and breed dairy cows (n=78) from a seasonal, pasture-grazed herd of 389 cows was examined. The selected cows were grouped as having endometritis at d 42 postpartum or being unaffected by endometritis. Endometritis was defined as >6% (upper quartile) of uterine nucleated cells being polymorphonuclear cells (H-PMN; n=38); unaffected by endometritis was defined as ≤1% of nucleated cells being polymorphonuclear (L-PMN; n=40). Milk yield was determined at each milking, and milk composition (fat and protein) was determined at 2-wk intervals. Blood samples collected on d -14, 0 (d of calving), 4, 7, 14, 28, and 42 were analyzed for indicators of energy status (nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and urea), liver function (albumin, globulin, glutamate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase), inflammation (haptoglobin), and mineral status (Ca and Mg). Samples collected weekly from d 21 to 63 or 70 were analyzed for progesterone content. The postpartum anovulatory interval was defined to end on the first day postpartum that plasma progesterone concentration was ≥1 ng/mL. A greater percentage of H-PMN cows failed to ovulate before d 63 or 70 (34%) compared with L-PMN cows (10%), although the proportions of cows ovulating within either polymorphonuclear group was similar through d 56 postpartum. Plasma concentrations of albumin and the albumin:globulin ratio were consistently lower in H-PMN cows. Plasma Mg was lower, whereas glutamate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase were higher, in H-PMN cows during early lactation compared with L-PMN cows. Circulating metabolites indicative of energy status (nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and urea) were not different between polymorphonuclear groups. Among 3- to 5-yr-old cows, daily milk yield for the first 42 d after calving was lower for H-PMN cows than for L-PMN cows. Among cows >5 yr old, protein percentage was lower in H-PMN cows compared with L-PMN cows. In summary, endometritis at 42 d postpartum in the herd studied was associated with an increased likelihood of remaining anovulatory. These cows had lower albumin concentrations throughout the calving transition period, perhaps indicating impaired liver function, with lower plasma Mg and evidence of hepatocellular damage in early lactation. Similar profiles of nonesterified fatty acids and glucose indicated that energy status was not a risk factor for endometritis.

Acute phase proteins in ruminants

“…In another investigation the concentrations of serum Hp and SAA were significantly higher in cows with acute puerperal metritis than in clinically healthy animals and furthermore among successfully pregnant cows the number of days open was significantly higher in cows with high concentrations of Hp indicating that subclinical uterine infection could be contributing to the prolongation of days open and a poor conception rate. In contrast a study of endometritis which compared the metabolic state of cows between those with high and low levels of elevated intrauterine polymorphonuclear cells [187], did not find a significant difference in serum Hp between groups although elevations were seen in both groups on the day of parturition. However, it was noted that the study design excluded cows with severe metritis.…”

Incidence of subclinical endometritis and its effects on reproductive performance of crossbred dairy cows

“…Williams et al (2005) concluded that uterine infection also affects ovarian function; however, in this work, the presence or absence of CL had no effect on the incidence of subclinical endometritis. In a study conducted by Burke et al (2010), using the endometrial cytobrush technique, noticed that cyclic cows diagnosed with low amounts of PMN cells ovulated early (between 63 and 70 days postpartum) when compared with those with high levels of these cells, which took longer to ovulate. It is important to notice that the presence of CL affects the recovery of the uterus after parturition, directly interfering in the future reproductive performance.…”

Impact of a Low Level Laser Irradiation (LLLI) On Several Blood and Productive Parameters of Fresh Dairy Cows

“…Circulating numbers of leucocytes (including both mature and immature PMN) increase to peak at or just after calving, and these counts were similar between cows with and without a fatty liver (>40 mg fat/g liver in the first 2 weeks postpartum) [9].Other markers of liver health have also been associated with endometritis. In pasture-based cows at weeks 2, 4 and 6, the postpartum aspartate aminotransferase and at weeks 4 and 6, the glutamate dehydrogenase were higher in cows with endometritis at week 6 [10]. Plasma albumin was slightly but significantly lower throughout the transition period in cows that had endometritis.…”