["Emergency splitting" of the teat canal--a therapeutic procedure in case of concurrent occurrence of acute thelitis and severe mastitis]. / Die "Notspaltung" des Zitzenkanals--ein Therapieverfahren bei Koinzidenz von akuter Thelitis und schwerer Mastitis.

In case of concurrent acute thelitis and severe mastitis, an immediate surgery of the stenosis ("emergency splitting") might be justified in order to improve milkability as a prerequisite for the removal of pathological milk secretion and therapy, successful mastitis therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the milkability and the clinical cure rate of mastitis between Group A (n = 19, cows with stenosis, thelitis and mastitis) and Group B (n = 19, cows with stenosis, with or without clinical mastitis, but without acute thelitis) following surgery of the papillary duct using a cutting instrument (Danish cannula model with a double cutting edge). In most cases, milkability was restored at the end of the treatment in both groups (Group A: 89.5%; Group B: 100%). In this time period nine of 19 quarters with mastitis in Group A were clinically cured (47%). Six month after the surgery, the animal owners considered the milkability as very good in 70% and 72% of the cases in Group A and Group B, respectively. However, "emergency splitting" led to a more intensive and longer postsurgical treatment. The average duration of total treatment (day of surgery plus 6 days of obligate postsurgical treatment plus additional treatment days) was 7.4 and 6.7 days in Group A and Group B, respectively. Furthermore, the higher expenditure was due to the more costly mastitis therapy. During the six month following surgery, only one cow of Group A had to be culled due to persistent mastitis and two cows because of insufficient milkability.

[generalized peritonitis in three cows following irrigation of the uterus in the puerperium]. / Generalisierte Peritonitis bei drei Kühen nach Uterusspülung im Puerperium.

Three cases of cows with a severe generalized peritonitis due to a perforated uterus following irrigation in puerperal disorder are described. Based on these events the legal aspects of the bovine uterus' irrigation during puerperium are discussed.

[Endometritis caused by a foreign body in a cow]. / Fremdkörperbedingte Endometritis bei einem Rind.

Uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries of a cow were obtained from the local abattoir. Post-mortem findings indicate a subacute to chronic endometritis, caused by a cigarette-lighter found in utero. The uterine mucosa, covered with mucopurulent secretions, was focally stained black by sulfhemoglobin. Regressed corpora lutea of different sizes and the absence of macroscopically visible tertiary follicles indicate irregularities of the estrous cycle.

[The cause of complications of abdominal incision healing after cesarean section in cattle]. / Zur Entstehung einer gestörten Heilung der Bauch-wandwunde nach Schnittentbindung beim Rind.

Based on a case analysis of patients with caesarean section (n = 252) performed at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Cattle of the Veterinary School of Hannover, it was the aim of the following study to make a contribution to the aetiology of wound complications following caesarean section. Wound complications were classified as mild, moderate or severe according to the following criteria: mild: slight swelling in the area of the wound (wound edema or slight phlegmon), especially in the ventral corner; healing without therapy (n = 17 [6.7%]), moderate: seroma and moderate phlegmon; wound healing after conservative treatment with hyperemizing ointments (n = 16 [6.3%]), severe: secondary wound healing after lancing of the abscess, rinsing with acridine colour solution and hydrogen peroxide solution plus drainage with iodoform gauze (n = 23 [9.1%]). The following factors had a significant effect on the healing process: duration of parturition (18% and 37.7% wound complications in animal with normal and prolonged labor, respectively); macroscopic condition of the allantoic and/or amniotic fluid (19.7% and 47.8% wound complications in animals with normal and pathologic allantoic and/or amniotic fluid; respectively); degree of the exposure of the uterus outside the laparotomy wound (13.4% and 51.7% wound complications in cases with complete exposure of the uterus [i.e. complete exposure of the pregnant horn with one limb of the fetus, e.g. in anterior position, from hock joint to the claws] and incomplete or no exposure of the uterus, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immuno-competent cells in the murine epididymis following infection with Escherichia coli.

Epididymitis was induced by retrograde injection of Escherichia coli into the vas deferens of 28 mice. A group of 28 saline-injected animals served as controls. On Days 1, 3, 7 and 28, groups of seven animals were killed. Bacterial culture was performed. Leucocyte numbers and distribution were determined in epididymides. In infected mice, E. coli were isolated from all epididymides on Days 1 and 3, but only from five of seven epididymides on Days 7 and 28. One week after infection, the total number of macrophages rose from about 10 to 28%. Significantly increased macrophage percentages were also found in animals killed 28 days after infection. A simultaneous increase in MHC class II positive cells was seen on Day 7. A total of 20% of the cells expressed MHC class II in infected epididymides (normal = 6%). A similar increase was found on Day 28 after infection. Most of the macrophages and MHC class II positive cells were located in the interstitium, fewer in the peritubular layer and nearly none in the epithelium. The main increase in these cells occurred in the interstitium and, to a lesser but significant extent, in the peritubular area. T-helper and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes reached peak values on Day 28. The increase in T-lymphocytes and simultaneous appearance of plasma cells followed the increase in numbers of macrophages and MHC class II positive cells. They were located mainly in the interstitium. A sequential increase in leucocyte subsets and negative culture results for E. coli were observed on Days 7 and 28 (2/7 on each day). The inflammatory process was restricted to the interstitium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The relationship between bovine clinical mastitis at the time of parturition and retained placenta]. / Zur Frage der Beziehungen zwischen bovinen klinischen Mastitiden zum Zeitpunkt der Abkalbung und Retentio secundinarum.

868 parturitions were examined to determine the relation between the clinical mastitis around partition and the loosening process of the placenta in the bovine. The occurrence of mastitis in heifers and cows around parturition was 18.7%. The frequency of retained placenta in animals with mastitis was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than that in animals without mastitis influenced the loosening process of the afterbirth. The results support an hypothesis, that mastitis and retentio secundinarum can regard as signs of the decrease in the activity of the immune system.

[Forensic problems in bovine obstetrics and gynecology]. / Forensik in der Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie beim Rind.

In the published statistical reports of liability insurance companies for veterinarians a high percentage of damage claims falls into the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, particularly in the bovine species. Veterinarians are held responsible for the consequences of insufficient clinical examinations of female animals or, after a correct diagnosis, initiation of therapeutic measures that ar not indicated. An increasing number of damage claims is due to the fact that the veterinarian has not informed the owner of an animal in advance about the possible medical or economic risks of a particular treatment. From the expert opinions requested of our clinic by insurance companies and law courts, it can be concluded that in veterinary obstetrics, lesions and damages occurring during vaginal deliveries are still the most frequent cause of compensation claims. Veterinarians are blamed for the use of too much traction force (number of persons assisting in an extraction, use of mechanical calf-pullers) and for incorrect procedures during the manual or instrumental correction of postural or positional abnormalities or a uterine torsion. Also, in case of complications after obstetrical surgery owners suspect failure of the veterinarian. Many losses in the puerperal period are due to the fact that the clinical examination after an obstetrical intervention has not been performed with the necessary accuracy or has been completely omitted. Compensation claims after gynaecological procedures are mostly based on a falsely positive or negative pregnancy diagnosis and complications after surgery involving the ovaries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of endogenous estrogens in the maturation process of the bovine placenta.

The plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations of 19 pregnant cows (average duration of pregnancy 266.0 +/- 2.3 d at the start of the study) were determined daily from Day 6 pre partum to Day 1 post partum. Parturition was induced in all cows by administration of 10 mg i.m. flumethasone. Values were centered around the delivery date (Day 0) following either induced normal calving (n = 3) or surgical delivery (n = 16). In animals showing spontaneous expulsion of the fetal membranes (Group 1, n = 6) the average total estrogen concentration increased significantly from Day 6 until Day 1 before parturition (1329.2 +/- 317.9 to 3719.8 +/- 951.2 pg/ml in total estrogens). A marked decrease was observed on Day 1 post partum (459.4 +/- 344.2 pg/ml). In comparison with Group 1, animals showing either a delayed or partial expulsion of the fetal membranes, or in which the placenta could be withdrawn 16 h after calving (Group 2, n = 5), had consistently lower total estrogen concentrations between Day 6 (595.4 +/- 174.8 pg/ml) and Day 1 (1884.3 +/- 565.1 pg/ml) before parturition. The estrogen values of the cows with retained placenta (Group 3, n = 8) from Days 6 to 0 pre partum were significantly lower than those of Group 2. Total estrogen concentrations of the three groups 1 d post partum did not differ significantly. It is generally recognized that estrogens play an important role in the maturation process of the placentomes. Our investigation demonstrates that not only is the magnitude of the prepartum rise in estrogens of great influence of the maturation process but the duration of this rise is likewise important. These two factors are vital for a normal expulsion of the fetal membranes.

[Recurrent, atypical uterine prolapse after the end of early puerperium in a cow of the German black pied breed (clinical case report)]. / Rezidivierender, atypischer Prolapsus uteri nach Abschluss des Frühpuerperiums bei einer Kuh der Rasse "Deutsche Schwarzbunte" (klinische Kurzmitteilung).

A case of a recurrent incomplete uterine prolapse in a two year-old cow of the German Black Pied breed delivered into the clinic at the 16th day after parturition is described. An inversio uteri that possibly relapsed very soon following reposition of an uterine prolapse post partum is presumably the reason of the prolapsus uteri beyond the early puerperal period. The prolapsed left uterine horn was enclosed tightly by the cervix. Due to severe inflammatory changes a reduction was not practicable.

[Abscess of the cervix uteri and uterine wall in a cow of German red-spotted breed]. / Zervix- und Uteruswandabszess bei einer Kuh der Rasse "Deutsche Rotbunte".

This report concerns a 5-year-old "Deutsche Rotbunte" cow, which was brought into the clinic because of fertility problems 5 months after its fourth calving. A medicine-ball-sized abscess extending from cervix and corpus uteri into the abdominal cavity was diagnosed. A presumable cause of the abscess could have been an uterine treatment carried out prior to insemination.

[Ovarian hematoma and hemorrhage in a cow due to the manual rupture of cysts]. / Ovarialhämatom und -blutungen bei einer Kuh infolge manueller Zystensprengung.

The case of a German Black Pied cow at the age of about six years which died in consequence of an abdominal haemorrhage caused by the manual rupture of ovarious cysts is described. Based on this event, the legal aspects of manual surgical procedure on the bovine ovary are discussed.

Delayed termination of third-trimester gestations in dairy cows after treatment with the PGF(2alpha)analog Tiaprost.

Six dairy cows of the German Black Pied breed were treated between days 190 and 266 of gestation with 0.75 mg of the PGF(2alpha) analog Tiaprost (Iliren(R)-Hoechst). Luteolysis occurred within 24 hours, with progesterone blood levels dropping to baseline values of about 3.18 nmol/l (l ng/ml), but pregnancies were terminated by spontaneous abortions or premature parturitions only after an average of 24.2 days (range 5 to 50 days) after treatments. Four of six deliveries were premature and all deliveries were preceded by a rise in blood estrogen levels which commenced 1 to 12 days prepartum and peaked intrapartum. Unsuccessful attempts were made to induce this estrogen rise earlier by using treatments with Tiaprost, PGF(2alpha)-THAM or estradiol benzoate; treatments with a progesterone-releasing intravaginal device did not prevent the estrogen rise. Abortions and parturitions were spontaneous or by slight pulling. The placenta was retained in all six animals. Two immature fetuses were stillborn, and one immature born calf died three hours after birth.

[Segmental aplasia of the uterus in a cow of the "German Black Pied" breed (brief clinical report)]. / Segmentäre Uterusaplasie bei einer Kuh der Rasse "Deutsche Schwarzbunte" (klinische Kurzmitteilung).

A case of segmental aplasia of the uterus in a 3 1/2 year old cow of the German Black Pied breed that was delivered into the clinic one year after first calving because of fertility problems is described. A segmental aplasia of the right uterine horn, near to the uterine body, was determined. The blind cranial end of the affected horn was distended and tightly filled with a brownish, slightly viscous secrete.