Abstract
Abstract The aim of study was to evaluate different methods for subclinical endometritis (SCE) diagnoses and their accuracy to predict pregnancy. The study was performed on 51 postpartum cross breed dairy cows with pathological puerperium. Artificial insemination (AI) was done in spontaneous estrus. Endometrium samples were taken by cytotape (CT), cervical mucus (CM) samples by Metricheck and smears for crystallization degree were obtained at AI day. Blood serum samples for progesterone (P4) concentration determination were taken at AI day and 17 days later. Cows were examined by ultrasound 35 days after AI to confirm pregnancy. Percent (%) of polymorphnuclear leukocytes (PMNs) taken by CT were expressed by ROC curve (with cut-off point set at 1%). Out of the total of 51 cows involved in the study, 13.73% true positive and 41.17% true negative cows were found (54.90%). The content of CM sampled with Metricheck was altered in 11 cows (21.57%), and one of them was pregnant (1.96%). An average macroscopic CM value for pregnant cows was 0.06±0.24 vs. 0.39±0.79 for non-pregnant (p<0.05). An average value of CM crystallization in pregnant cows was 2.50±1.04 vs. 1.85±1.15 in non-pregnant (p<0.05). P4 concentration was not statistically different at AI day, but was statistically significantly higher 17 days later in pregnant cows (p = 0.002). CT alterations may be a reliable diagnostic tool for SCE diagnosis, while macroscopic CM alterations may be used for CE detection. P4 determination is beneficial in pregnancy diagnosis while CM crystallization degree is helpful in determination of best time for AI.
Highlights
Postpartum endometritis in cattle is a multifactorial disease with high economic impact
Most of the animals (31 out of 51 included in the study) had been diagnosed with pathological problems in the puerperium (9 cows had clinical endometritis associated with retained placenta, and 22 cows had vaginitis, mastitis and ketosis) and they were treated with proper medications
The cytological state of the endometrium and presence of subclinical endometritis (SCE) were evaluated by counting polymorphnuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the endometrial smears taken with CT, and stained with Giemsa, to visualize the cells (Figure 1)
Summary
Postpartum endometritis in cattle is a multifactorial disease with high economic impact. Cytological analysis of endometrial smears, in order to determine the increased presence of PMNs, and macroscopic visual analysis of the cervical mucus (CM) samples for the evaluation of CM quality parameters, such as cleanliness, color, quantity and presence of pus, blood and other impurities are often used for the evaluation of SCE presence [3,5,6,7]. This method, combined with the determination of progesterone (P4) concentration, obtained at the time of insemination, can be used as reliable methods of pregnancy prediction
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