Gy. Huszenicza

The relationship between bacteriological and clinical findings in cows with subacute/chronic endometritis

Abstract Bacteriological data from the uterine swabs of 101 cows with subacute/chronic (>14 d post partum) endometritis, with additional clinical observations (cervical discharge score), were collected before and at 14 d after intrauterine treatment with antibiotics. The discharge score ranged from 0 (clear mucus) to 4, and increased when it was more purulent. On the day of treatment, Actinomyces pyogenes, Bacteroides spp. and Fusobacterium necrophorum were isolated from 65, 77 and 61% of the uterine swabs. Escherichia coli was present in 36% and other bacteria in 48% of the swabs. The presence of A. pyogenes was positively correlated with that of Bacteroides spp. (P F. necrophorum (P E. coli and streptococci were negatively associated with the presence of A. pyogenes (P Actinomyces pyogenes, Bacteroides spp. and F. necrophorum were positively correlated with a discharge score (P A. pvogenes and/or F. necrophorum at 14 d after treatment resulted in higher clinical cure rates (defined as absence of pathologic discharge), (P A. pyogenes and Gram-negative anaerobes in the pathology of endometritis. We also conclude that vaginoscopic examination is a good tool for the diagnosis of subacute/chronic endometritis and evaluation of the result of the treatment.

Short estrous cycles and estrous signs after premature ovulations induced with cloprostenol and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in cyclic dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to confirm earlier findings, obtained with a small number of animals, that gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) can shorten corpus luteum functional life when it is administered 24 h after cloprostenol (PG) treatments given 7-9 days after estrus. In addition, the effects of two treatments, PG alone or PG + GnRH given before mid-diestrus, on signs of estrus were studied. Sixty cows in farm conditions were used in the experiment. Eight days after natural estrus, they were given an intramuscularly (i.m.) treatment of cloprostenol (0.5 mg). The animals were then divided into two groups. One group (n = 25) received an i.m. treatment of gonadorelin (0.1 mg) 24 h after the PG treatment (PG + GnRH group), while another group (n = 35) served as controls without any further treatment (PG group). Estrous signs were recorded. Progesterone concentrations were measured from samples of whole milk. No short cycles were observed in the PG group, whereas 33% of the cows in the PG + GnRH group exhibited premature luteal regression (P < 0.05). Cloprostenol treatment on Day 8 had no effect on the intensity of the estrous signs. Instead, GnRH treatment 24 h after PG treatment weakened the estrous signs significantly (P < 0.01). It is concluded that GnRH administration 24 h after a PG treatment given 8 days after estrus can cause short estrous cycles in some cows on an individual basis.

Factors affecting plasma progesterone concentration and the retrospective determination of time of ovulation in cyclic mares.

Factors influencing plasma progesterone concentration were investigated in seven mares. Two-phase logistic curves were fitted (r=0.98) to plasma progesterone concentrations of blood samples collected once daily. In addition to the effect of time (P<0.001), there were differences (P<0.01) among mares in the peak height of the progesterone plateau and in the (area under the curve) AUC. Plasma progesterone concentrations were higher (P<0.001) after a multiple versus single ovulation. There was an effect of season (P<0.001), but no significant effect of luteal morphology. The retrospective determination of time of ovulation was carried out using a linear model on the seven mares and 25 additional mares. Linear regression on the measured values or on the ratio to the average concentration from D5 to D10, was calculated with the day of cycle between D0 and D4. The ovulation date was then calculated using both of these equations, whether blood sampling was performed twice or thrice weekly on 25 postpartum mares. The accuracy to predict day of ovulation (+/- 1 day) ranged from 88 to 97%. In conclusion, the retrospective estimation of time of ovulation in mares was possible, although the technique had some limitations.

AluI polymorphism of the bovine growth hormone (GH) gene, resumption of ovarian cyclicity, milk production and loss of body condition at the onset of lactation in dairy cows

Relationships among GH genotype (AluI polymorphism), parity, metritis and interval from calving to first ovulation, milk production and body condition score (BCS) loss were determined in dairy cows (n=307) on four large-scale farms in Hungary. Cows with systemic signs of puerperal metritis or mastitis were excluded. Time of the first postpartum (PP) ovulation was obtained from milk progesterone profiles. Based on GH genotype determination, groups of leucine homozygous cows (n=246) and valine allele carriers (n=61) were formed. All animals became cyclic during the study period. The average interval to first ovulation was 27.6+/-0.69-d PP (mean+/-S.D.). Genotype had no effect on the commencement of ovarian cyclicity. First ovulation occurred sooner after calving in pluriparous than in primiparous cows. The greater BCS loss cows had during the first 30-d PP, the longer they took to resume cyclic ovarian function. The interval from calving to first ovulation was substantially affected by farm, but not by mild cases of puerperal metritis. Genotype was not related to cumulative 30-d milk yield or BCS loss after calving. Primiparous cows had lower milk yield than pluriparous ones. Cows with metritis lost more body condition than healthy individuals in the first month postpartum. We concluded that, under field conditions, AluI polymorphism of the bovine GH gene had no effect on the interval from calving to first ovulation and could not be directly related to differences in milk yield and to the extent of BCS loss during the first month after calving in Holstein-Friesian cows.

Postpartal ovarian activity of healthy cows and those affected by subclinical metabolic disorders

Abstract The postpartal ovarian activity was studied in healthy cows and in those affected by subclinical fatty liver disease and subclinical primary ketosis. Twenty-six dairy cows, 4–7 years old, with not less than 5000 l milk yield in the preceding lactation, were monitored for the following blood parameters: aspartate-amino-transferase (AST)/glutamicoxalacetic transaminase (GOT), albumin, total protein, total lipid, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and triglyceride levels, glucose and ketones. The ratios albumin : total protein and NEFA : triglyceride were also calculated. Blood samples were collected once a week between days 255 and 260 of gestation and days 1–15 postpartum, and subsequently on the 30th, 45th and 60th days postpartum. Based on the biochemical parameters, the cows were assigned in retrospect to three groups: (1) healthy ( n = 5), (2) subclinical fatty liver disease ( n = 6), and (3) subclinical primary ketosis ( n = 10). The postpartal ovarian activity was assessed by rectal palpation and by milk progesterone levels, determined by radioimmunoassay in samples collected 2–3 times weekly between days 5 and 70 postpartum. As early as 10–18 days postpartum, ovarian activity was evident in healthy cows. This was confirmed by the progesterone profiles indicating three regular ovarian cycles with normal hormone levels within 70 days postpartum. All five healthy cows were detected in estrus and only one failed to conceive after insemination. The six cows with subclinical fatty liver disease had no regular cycles and only a few small follicles were palpable on their ovaries. The milk progesterone fluctuated around the basal level (⩽ 1.6 nmol/l). The first Graafian follicles appeared as late as days 30–35 postpartum and the luteal function commenced only between days 38 and 60, as indicated by palpation of corpora lutea and a concomitant rise in milk progesterone. The progesterone peaks were at the lower physiological limits characteristic of luteal function. The ovarian activity of the ten cows with subclinical primary ketosis was intermediate between that of healthy and fatty liver cows. The first follicles and corpora lutea were somewhat delayed, and the progesterone levels fluctuated considerably during the luteal phase. One cow in this group resumed ovarian inactivity during the 70-day postpartal observation period.

Plasma progesterone and lipid profiles in superovulated heifers

Estrous cycles of 22 Holstein-Friesian and Hereford crossbred heifers were synchronized by a IO-day treatment with progestagen releasing ear implants (Crestar, Intervet). Heifers were superovulated with 2,000 IU eCG i.m. (Folligon, Inter-vet) on Day 10 of the synchronized cycle followed by 30 mg PGF,, (Enzaprost, Chinoin) 2 days later. Heifers were inseminated at estrus (Day 0 = Day of Al), flushed on Day 7 and injected with 30 mg PGF,, (PG) on Day 13. Number of corpora lutea (CL) were estimated by real time ultrasonography and rectal palpation on the day of non-surgical embryo collection. Plasma samples for progesterone RIA were collected by jugular venipuncture after withdrawal of the ear implants, at estrus and on days 7, 10 (eCG treatment), 12 (PG treatment), then daily between 2 d before and 2 d after Al, thereafter on Day 5, 7 (flushing), 10 and 13 (PG administration). Plasma samples for total cholesterol (TCh), HDL cholesterol (HDL-Ch), total carotene (TCar), triglyceride (TG) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were collected on the following days: 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 13 and 16 after Al. Based on the number of CL counted on the day of embryo recovery, the animals were allotted into low (~2 CL, n=7) or high (~3 CL, n=15) response categories. Blood parameters before and after the superovulatory cycle were compared within the groups as well as between the groups after the superovulatory treatment. Progesterone concentrations were significantly higher during the superovulatory treatment than during the previous non-stimulated cycle in both groups.