Preventing postpartum uterine disease in dairy cattle depends on avoiding, tolerating and resisting pathogenic bacteria

Abstract Over the past decade, a multitude of research has sought to understand the complexity and role of the reproductive microbiome as it pertains to fertility. Previously, the reproductive microbiome was evaluated using culture-dependent methods; however, recent advancements in culture-independent, 16S rRNA gene amplicon community sequencing have vastly expanded our understanding of the reproductive tract microbiome. Early sequencing studies sought to compare the vaginal microbiome of cattle to the vaginal microbiome of healthy women, which predominantly consists of bacteria in the genus Lactobacillus and believed to be an indicator of fertility. In the vagina of beef cattle, however, there are incredibly low abundances of Lactobacillus and a greater diversity of bacterial species present. Beta-diversity, which examine differences in bacterial communities between samples, does not appear to differ in the vagina between unbred, open, or pregnant cattle. In postpartum beef cattle just prior to breeding, there are greater levels of diversity and increased bacterial species richness in the vagina compared to the uterus. Research on bacterial species within the uterus have primarily focused on pathogenic bacteria in postpartum cattle diagnosed with uterine disease. Fewer studies have investigated uterine bacterial species in presumed healthy postpartum beef cattle and the subsequent effects on fertility outcomes (e.g., pregnant vs. open at day 30). When evaluating the uterine microbiome during an industry standard estrus synchronization protocol, bacterial community abundance and diversity reduce over time regardless of resulting fertility outcomes. The greatest difference in uterine bacterial abundance between resulting pregnant and non-pregnant cattle appears to occur just prior to breeding. Numerous mechanisms could be contributing to the fluctuations in the uterine microbiome in beef cattle including circulating hormone concentrations or local immunoregulation. This presentation will focus on recent research investigating potential mechanisms that may alter the reproductive microbiome and ultimately impact fertility.

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Drivers of Post-partum Uterine Disease in Dairy Cattle

Reproduction in Domestic Animals ◽

10.1111/rda.12205 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 ◽

pp. 53-58 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

EJ Williams

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Post Partum ◽

Uterine Disease

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Uterine disease and its effect on subsequent reproductive performance of dairy cattle: a comparison of two cow-side diagnostic methods

Theriogenology ◽

10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.06.018 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 86 (8) ◽

pp. 1983-1988 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Miha Šavc ◽

Mary Duane ◽

Luke E. O'Grady ◽

Joris R. Somers ◽

Marijke E. Beltman

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Reproductive Performance ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Uterine Disease

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Assessment of Sensitivity and Profitability of an Intravaginal Sensor for Remote Calving Prediction in Dairy Cattle

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21248348 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (24) ◽

pp. 8348

Author(s):

Martina Crociati ◽

Lakamy Sylla ◽

Giuseppe Stradaioli ◽

Maurizio Monaci ◽

Alfonso Zecconi

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Dairy Farm ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Uterine Disease ◽

Vaginal Mucosa ◽

Night Time ◽

Bull Semen ◽

Warm Weather ◽

A Cell ◽

Intravaginal Device

One critical point of dairy farm management is calving and neonatal first care. Timely calving assistance is associated with the reduction of calf mortality and postpartum uterine disease, and with improved fertility in dairy cattle. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and profitability of an intravaginal sensor for the prediction of stage II of labor in dairy farms, thus allowing proper calving assistance. Seventy-three late-gestating Italian Holstein cows were submitted to the insertion of an intravaginal device, equipped with light and temperature sensors, connected with a Central Unit for the commutation of a radio-signal into a cell phone alert. The remote calving alarm correctly identified the beginning of the expulsive phase of labor in 86.3% of the monitored cows. The mean interval from alarm to complete expulsion of the fetus was 71.56 ± 52.98 min, with a greater range in cows with dystocia (p = 0.012). The sensor worked correctly in both cold and warm weather conditions, and during day- or night-time. The intravaginal probe was well tolerated, as any cow showed lesions to the vaginal mucosa after calving. Using sex-sorted semen in heifers and beef bull semen in cows at their last lactation, the economic estimation performed through PrecisionTree™ software led to an income improvement of 119 € and 123 €/monitored delivery in primiparous and pluriparous cows, respectively. Remote calving alarm devices are key components of “precision farming” management and proven to improve animal welfare, to reduce calf losses and to increase farm incomes.

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Preventing Postpartum Uterine Disease in Dairy Cattle Depends on Avoiding, Tolerating and Resisting Pathogenic Bacteria

10.20944/preprints201908.0140.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Iain Sheldon ◽

Paula C C Molinari ◽

Thomas J R Ormsby ◽

John J Bromfield

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Tissue Damage ◽

Genital Tract ◽

Tissue Repair ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Transition Period ◽

Metabolic Stress ◽

Uterine Disease ◽

Defensive Strategies ◽

Pathogen Burden

Up to forty percent of dairy cows can develop metritis or endometritis when bacteria infect the uterus after parturition. However, it is unclear why other cows exposed to similar pathogens do not develop uterine disease. We suggest that resilient dairy cows prevent the development of uterine disease using the three complimentary defensive strategies of avoiding, tolerating and resisting infection with pathogenic bacteria. Avoidance maintains health by limiting the exposure to pathogens. Avoidance includes intrinsic behaviors to prevent exposure to pathogens or infected animals, perhaps signaled by the fetid odor of uterine disease. Tolerance improves health by limiting the tissue damage caused by the pathogen burden. Tolerance depends on controlling the tissue damage that pathogens cause in the endometrium by neutralizing bacterial toxins, enhancing tissue repair, and inducing adaptive metabolic responses. Resistance improves health by limiting the pathogen burden. Resistance relies on the immune system generating an inflammatory response in the endometrium to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. People who manage dairy cows can also help prevent uterine disease by using extended lactations, avoiding trauma to the genital tract, maintaining hygiene, and supplying appropriate nutrition during the transition period and after parturition to counter the metabolic stress of lactation. Developing new ways to prevent uterine disease depends on increasing our understanding of the mechanisms of avoidance, tolerance and resistance to pathogens in the postpartum uterus.

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Ovarian function and inflammatory uterine disease in dairy cattle

Japanese Journal of Large Animal Clinics ◽

10.4190/jjlac.6.215 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (Supple) ◽

pp. 215-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T. Shimizu ◽

S. Haneda ◽

F. Magata

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Ovarian Function ◽

Uterine Disease

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Endometritis in Bovine: A Review

Agricultural Reviews ◽

10.18805/ag.r-2038 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

K.H. Parmar

Keyword(s):

Bacterial Infections ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Defense Mechanism ◽

Post Partum ◽

Uterine Disease ◽

Estrous Cycles ◽

Milk Fever ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Variable Success ◽

Variable Success Rate

Endometritis is an inflammation of the endometrial lining of uterus without systemic signs, which is associated with chronic postpartum infection of the uterus with pathogenic bacteria. Prevalence rate of endometritis in India ranges from 3 to 25% in cows. The rate of endometritis in buffaloes which were covered under Amul and Dudhsagar dairy ranged from 10 to 48 per cent in Gujarat. The classification of endometritis is based on vaginal mucus viz., mild, mucopurulent, purulent and endometritis with mucopurulant or purulent fluid in uterus and severity of infection viz., acute, sub clinical and chronic endometritis. Clinical endometritis is manifested by presence of a purulent uterine discharge detectable in the vagina after 21 days or more post partum, or mucopurulent discharge detectable in the vagina after 26 days post partum. The metabolic disorders like milk fever and ketosis are related to an increase risk of developing endometritis. The endometritis is the complex of diseases that includes retained placenta, puerperal metritis, endometritis, pyometra and other non-specific infections of the uterus. The FSH concentrations from the pituitary are unaffected by uterine disease and so waves of ovarian follicles emerge in the first weeks after parturition. Classical diagnosis of endometritis on the basis of clinical manifestation and rectal examination is common. New diagnostic device Metricheck, Cytobrush and ultrasonography is adequate to diagnose endometritis. Endometritis is often self-limiting with recovery occurring after subsequent estrous cycles. The effective treatment is one which increases the uterine defense and excludes bacterial infections, but should not inhibit the normal uterine defense mechanism. PGF2α in combination with intrauterine antibacterial drugs, immunomudulators and herbals agents like Garlic extract, Neem oil are the treatment of choice for Endometritis in bovine with variable success rate.

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