Inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein concentrations in the peripheral blood and uterine washings of cows with subclinical endometritis in the late postpartum period.

Jan Marczuk,Leszek Krakowski,Krzysztof Kostro,Piotr Brodzki

doi:10.1007/s11259-015-9635-4

Jan Marczuk, Leszek Krakowski + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-015-9635-4

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines: tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and acute phase proteins (APPs)—haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in serum and uterine washings of cows with subclinical endometritis, and compare them to healthy animals. The study was performed on 24 cows on day 60 after delivery. The cows were divided into two groups based on the results of cytological tests: 12 cows with subclinical endometritis and 12 healthy cows. Experimental material consisted of blood serum and uterine washings. The levels of the following cytokines in the study material were determined with ELISA: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and APPs - Hp and SAA. The results show that the levels of TNF-α (p < 0.01), IL-6, IL-10 as well as SAA and Hp were significantly higher in the serum of cows with subclinical endometritis compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Uterine washings had significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10, and Hp in the experimental cows compared to the controls (p < 0.001). The demonstrated differences in the concentration of cytokines and APP between cows with subclinical endometritis and healthy cows, in both the serum and uterine washings, may suggest the usefulness of these parameters in the diagnosis of subclinical endometritis in cows in the late postpartum period.

Highlights

Subclinical endometritis compared to other types of inflammation of the uterus, is diagnosed late due to the lack of noticeable clinical symptoms related to the reproductive system, usually when insemination becomes ineffective
The data shows that the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (p
The uterine washings in cows with subclinical endometritis had significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-10, and Hp compared to the healthy group (p

Summary

Introduction

Subclinical endometritis compared to other types of inflammation of the uterus, is diagnosed late due to the lack of noticeable clinical symptoms related to the reproductive system, usually when insemination becomes ineffective. The implementation of new diagnostic methods and the use of different therapeutic methods, endometritis in dairy cows remains a serious economic problem all over the world. This is mainly due to large economic losses caused by the low rate of artificial insemination and the necessity to cull animals in the herd (Galvao 2012; LeBlanc 2008 and Lee and Kim 2007). Bacterial infections play an important role in the complex etiology of subclinical endometritis (Bicalho et al 2010; Földi et al 2006 and Gautam et al 2010). The development of bovine endometritis is associated with very complex signaling processes involving the detection of bacterial components by innate immune cells via Toll-like receptors, the production of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and other proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., interleukins (IL)), and the mobilization of neutrophils

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