Immunoglobulin G, white blood cell, and fibrinogen concentrations among dairy cows with and without endometritis during transition period

Abstract

Postpartum reproductive performance closely depends on uterine health. Under normal circumstances, almost 100% of cows haveuterine contamination within first 2 weeks after calving. Whereas the innate immune and reproductive systems usually eliminatemost offending microbes, persistent infection still reportedly occurs in ~ 20% of postpartum cows. Our purpose was to estimateconcentrations of systemic immune indicators (IgG, white blood cells, and fibrinogen) during the transition period in dairy cowswith and without endometritis. Fifty-nine multiparous cows were systematically and consecutively enrolled during the dry periodand examined 6 times from 40 days before to 40 days after calving. Cows in the diseased group (n = 11) were identified based on4 criteria (presence of Trueperella pyogenes grade > 2 in the uterus, clinical endometritis, subclinical endometritis, and cervicitis).Cows in the control group (n = 11) were negative for all 4 criteria. Prevalence of Trueperella pyogenes, clinical endometritis, subclinicalendometritis, and cervicitis was 25, 16, 23, and 31%, respectively. Concentrations of IgG, white blood cells, and fibrinogen didnot change over the period or vary among control and diseased cows. In conclusion, systemic indicators of inflammation were notgood markers for diagnosing or monitoring endometritis in postpartum dairy cows.