Persistence of uterine bacterial infection, and its associations with endometritis and ovarian function in postpartum dairy cows

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Abstract

We investigated the relationship between the persistence of uterine bacterial infections with cytologically determined endometritis and ovarian function in 65 postpartum Holstein cows. Vaginal mucus discharges were collected, and endometrial smear samples (n = 130) were collected for cytological and bacteriological examinations from the cows at weeks 5 and 7 postpartum (pp). Blood samples were collected at weeks 3, 5 and 7 pp to determine plasma progesterone concentrations to monitor ovarian activity. According to the bacteriological examination, cows were classified into four groups. The first group (n = 32; 49%) comprised cows negative for bacteria at weeks 5 and 7 pp. The second group (n = 11; 17%) comprised cows with bacterial infections at week 5 pp but that were clear of infection at week 7 pp. The third group (n = 12; 19%) comprised cows without bacteria at week 5 pp but that acquired an infection by week 7 pp. The fourth group (n = 10; 15%) comprised cows with bacterial infections at weeks 5 and 7 pp (persistence of infection). A positive correlation (P < 0.001) was noted between the severity of cytologically determined endometritis, purulent vaginal discharge and the persistence of infection. Cows with persistent infections had a significantly (P < 0.01) prolonged luteal phase compared with cows without infection. In conclusion, the prevalence of cytologically determined endometritis and prolonged luteal phase were significantly increased in cows with persistent infections.

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Most cited references 44

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Defining postpartum uterine disease in cattle.

I Martin Sheldon, Gregory Lewis, Stephen LeBlanc … (2006)

Uterine function is often compromised in cattle by bacterial contamination of the uterine lumen after parturition, and pathogenic bacteria often persist, causing uterine disease, a key cause of infertility in cattle. However, the definition or characterization of uterine disease frequently lacks precision or varies among research groups. The aim of the present paper was to provide clear clinical definitions of uterine disease that researchers could adopt. Puerperal metritis should be defined as an animal with an abnormally enlarged uterus and a fetid watery red-brown uterine discharge, associated with signs of systemic illness (decreased milk yield, dullness or other signs of toxemia) and fever > 39.5 degrees C, within 21 days after parturition. Animals that are not systemically ill, but have an abnormally enlarged uterus and a purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina, within 21 days post partum, may be classified as having clinical metritis. Clinical endometritis is characterised by the presence of purulent (> 50% pus) uterine discharge detectable in the vagina 21 days or more after parturition, or mucuopurulent (approximately 50% pus, 50% mucus) discharge detectable in the vagina after 26 days post partum. In the absence of clinical endometritis, a cow with subclinical endometritis is defined by > 18% neutrophils in uterine cytology samples collected 21-33 days post partum, or > 10% neutrophils at 34-47 days. Pyometra is defined as the accumulation of purulent material within the uterine lumen in the presence of a persistent corpus luteum and a closed cervix. In conclusion, we have suggested definitions for common postpartum uterine diseases, which can be readily adopted by researchers and veterinarians.

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Defining postpartum uterine disease and the mechanisms of infection and immunity in the female reproductive tract in cattle.

I Martin Sheldon, James Cronin, Leopold Goetze … (2009)

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.

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Influence of uterine bacterial contamination after parturition on ovarian dominant follicle selection and follicle growth and function in cattle.

Jane Rycroft, T. D. Noakes, Christopher D Pfeiffer … (2002)

First postpartum dominant follicles are preferentially selected in the ovary contralateral to the previously gravid uterine horn. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that uterine bacterial contamination alters the location of ovarian follicle emergence and selection, and inhibits follicle growth and function. Swabs were collected from the uterine body lumen of cattle on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after parturition. Bacteria were identified by aerobic and anaerobic culture; bacterial growth was scored semiquantitatively and animals were categorized into standard or high bacterial contamination categories on the basis of the number of colonies detected. Follicular growth and function were monitored by daily transrectal ultrasonography, and estimation of plasma FSH, oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. There was no effect of bacterial contamination on plasma FSH concentration profiles or emergence of the ovarian follicle wave. When uterine bacterial growth scores were high on day 7 or day 21 after parturition, fewer first (1/20 versus 15/50; P < 0.05) or second (1/11 versus 13/32; P < 0.05) dominant follicles were selected in the ipsilateral compared with the contralateral ovary, respectively. The diameter of the first dominant follicle was smaller in animals with a high day 7 bacterial score (P < 0.001), dominant follicle growth was slower (P < 0.05) and oestradiol secretion was decreased (P < 0.05). The present study provides evidence for an effect of the uterus on the ovary after parturition, whereby uterine bacteria have a contemporaneous localized effect on ovarian follicle selection and subsequent growth and function, but not on initial emergence.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Reprod Dev

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): J. Reprod. Dev

Journal ID (publisher-id): JRD

Title: The Journal of Reproduction and Development

Publisher: The Society for Reproduction and Development

ISSN (Print): 0916-8818

ISSN (Electronic): 1348-4400

Publication date (Electronic): 06 December 2014

Publication date (Print): February 2015

Volume: 61

Issue: 1

Pages: 54-60

Affiliations

[1) ]Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Iwate 020-8550, Japan

[2) ]Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

[# ]Present address: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan

Author notes

Correspondence: T Osawa (e-mail: osawa@ 123456cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp )

Article

Publisher ID: 2014-051

DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2014-051

PMC ID: 4354232

PubMed ID: 25482111

SO-VID: d63e9b82-e2e6-4787-b879-a7b5e01f10f4

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) License.

History

Date received : 25 April 2014

Date accepted : 19 October 2014

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