Cytological, Bacteriological and Antibiogram Studies for the Management of Uterine Infection in Repeat Breeder Bovines

Abstract

Background: Repeat breeding syndrome (RBS) associated with sub-clinical uterine infection (UI) remains to be a major reproductive problem faced by Indian farmers. Present study documents its diagnosis, prevalent etiological agents, antibiogram pattern and efficacy of the treatment at field level. Methods: Seventy-eight RBS affected bovines were selected. The cervical mucous (CM) was collected for study of its characteristics, white-side test, endometrial cytology, microbial examination and antibiogram. The treatment protocol was developed and the animals’ response to the treatment was assessed. Result: The overall incidence of RBS was found to be 12.9% and the cases associated with uterine infection (RBS/UI+ve) and without uterine infection (RBS/UI-ve) were 44.87% and 55.13%, respectively. The mean scores of CM character, odour, pH and number of polymorphonuclear cells in RBS/UI +ve were 2.09±1.39, 1.14±0.12, 8.49±0.08 and 12.46±0.96, respectively, and differed significantly (P less than 0.05) from RBS/UI-ve cases. The microbial examination revealed the presence of gram negative bacilli, Trueperella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli and yeast infection. Antibiogram studies recorded the response of Tetracyclin as best (48.57%) followed by Cephalexin (22.86%), Chloramphenicol (20.0%) and Streptomycin (8.57%). The RBS/UI+ve cases were treated individually, on one-to-one basis, obeying antibiogram. The infection appeared to be considerably controlled and overall success rate was observed in the form of confirmed pregnancy in 71.43% cases. Thus, it was concluded that prompt diagnosis using endometrial cytology and antibiogram guided therapeutic approach may aid for effective management of RBS/UI +ve cases, under field conditions.