Pre- and Post-partum Concentrations of Interleukin 1α, Interleukin 8, and α1-Acid Glycoprotein in Vaginal Fornix and Endometrium of Dairy Cows With Clinical Cervicitis.

Innate immunity is the principal sensor responsible of the local immune response to control mucosal bacterial contamination of the reproductive tract after parturition, triggering a pro-inflammatory process in the mucosa of the uterus, the vaginal and the cervix. However, knowledge about the inflammation process and outcome of the cervix in dairy cows is scarce even though it plays an important anatomic and functional role between the vagina and the uterus. The objective of the present study was to describe the cellular and humoral local innate immune response during clinical cervicitis (CC) in the uterus and vaginal fornix in pre- and post-partum periods of dairy cows. A retrospective descriptive study was performed involving 26 animals, characterized as clinical cervicitis cows (n = 19) and healthy cows (n = 7). Blood and mucus of the different compartments of the genital tract were sampled and records of the cows' genital exam were performed four times: -1 w (day -7 ± 2, prepartum), +1 w (day +7 ± 4), +3 w (day +21 ± 4) and +5 w (day +35 ± 4) postpartum. Clinical cervicitis was defined as cows exhibiting a cervix grade-2 and healthy cows were defined as a cow clinically normal with a grade-0 cervix at time +5 w. Blood white cell count, vaginal fornix and endometrial neutrophils percentage, and the concentrations of interleukin 1α (IL1), interleukin 8 (IL8), and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in mucus were determined. The results showed that 23% of the cows were categorized as CC at time +5 w. Cases of CC with purulent vaginal discharge or subclinical endometritis shown the highest cytokine production. At +3 w, IL1, IL8, and AGP concentrations in the uterus and the fornix were significantly higher in CC than healthy cows (CH). In conclusion, the 3-week postpartum is a critical point to evaluate cytokines and acute phase proteins; where IL1 and IL8 variation kept a direct relation with neutrophils numbers and function. The presence of AGP in the endometrium infer a homeostatic proinflammatory protective balance effect, modulating the local uterine innate immune response during peripartum.

Fetal mummification in the major domestic species: current perspectives on causes and management.

Fetal mummification is an uncommon condition in most domestic species. While most often seen in multiparous and polytocous species like swine, it is also observed in monotocous species when the fetus is retained for a long time. The low prevalence of the condition may help explain the scarcity of information in the literature. To further complicate the study of this phenomenon, the physiological mechanisms that maintain pregnancy vary between species, implying different pathways for the condition. The exact outcome of early fetal mortality is unpredictable, and is influenced by several factors, including the cause of fetal mortality, differences in pregnancy between species, stage of gestation at fetal death, and number of fetuses. Based on our current knowledge of natural fetal mummification events, there are a number of prerequisites for the process of fetal mummification to occur. Examining the circumstances associated with fetal mummification can help scientists better understand the etiology and clinical situation in different species. The objective of this article is to review fetal mummification in the major domestic species: cattle, goats, sheep, horses, swine, dogs, and cats. This paper discusses the clinical situation, the most common and important etiologies, and the treatment approaches for restoring future pregnancy in the female, and where applicable, herd fertility.

Therapeutic efficiency of antibiotics and prostaglandin F2α in postpartum dairy cows with clinical endometritis: an evidence-based evaluation.

The occurrence of vaginal discharge in postpartum dairy cows is generally diagnosed as clinical endometritis. This uterine condition is associated with reduced fertility and economic loss for the dairy industry. Therapeutic approaches include the systemic or intrauterine application of antibiotics or the injection of prostaglandin F2α and analogues to cause luteolysis and uterine contractions to evacuate the infected content. The treatment of clinical endometritis remains a subject of considerable controversy in the literature. Better understanding of the reproductive biology of normal versus abnormal uterine involution and immune mechanisms will allow more efficient diagnostic methods and a more efficient therapeutic approach.

Assessment of fetal well-being in cattle by ultrasonography in normal, high-risk, and cloned pregnancies.

This study determined ultrasonographic parameters of fetuses and uterine adnexa in late pregnancy in normal, cloned, and high-risk pregnancies in relation to perinatal and neonatal outcome. Ten cows with normal pregnancies (CONTROL, mean pregnancy length 273 d), 10 sick cows with potentially compromised pregnancies (HIGH-RISK, mean pregnancy length 267 d), and 10 heifers with cloned pregnancies (CLONED, mean pregnancy length 274 d) were examined at more than 260 d of gestation. There was no difference in mean fetal heart rates among the groups. The cloned calves were heavier (57 ± 8 kg) than calves from CONTROL group (36 ± 7 kg), and calves from HIGH-RISK group (37 ± 13 kg) (P = 0.003). The diameter of the thoracic aorta was positively correlated (R = 0.62) with fetal birth weight in the CONTROL group (P = 0.01). Fetal activity was not associated with survival. The results suggest that transabdominal ultrasonographic assessment of the fetal well-being may serve as a potential tool for evaluation of the fetoplacental unit.

Ultrasound imaging of the bull reproductive tract: an important field of expertise for veterinarians.

Diagnosing male reproductive system pathologies can often be frustrating because of the challenge involved in precisely determining their site, severity, and prognosis. The introduction of complementary ultrasonographic examination enables clinicians to address these important questions. This procedure should be performed not only on bulls destined to artificial insemination, but on all farm bulls. The examination is easy to perform with a versatile ultrasonographic unit designed for bovine theriogenology. To recognize abnormal tissues, however, the operator must have an excellent knowledge of the ultrasonographic anatomy of the reproductive system. This article discusses the basis of ultrasound technique for male reproductive tract examination. Ultrasound evaluation of physiologic and pathologic conditions of external and internal reproduction organs is proposed.

Ultrasonographic fetal well-being assessment, neonatal and postpartum findings of cloned pregnancies in cattle: a preliminary study on 10 fetuses and calves.

Cloned pregnancies in cattle are considered to be at risk due to a variety of fetal or adnexal abnormalities. Data is lacking concerning the possibility of transabdominal ultrasonography in the assessment of these high risk pregnancies. Transabdominal ultrasonography has rarely been reported in the assessment of bovine cloned pregnancies. Ten Holstein heifers carrying 8-month-old cloned fetuses were assessed by transabdominal ultrasonographic examination during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Fetal heart rates (FHR), movements, adnexal appearance, and placentome size were recorded. The outcome of the pregnancies was also noted and potential indicators of fetal demise recorded. Survival rate 1 week after birth was 30%. Mean FHR was 113 beats per minute (range: 92 to 128 bpm) during the fetal ultrasonography. No correlation between FHR and fetal activity was found. Fetal hyperactivity and imaging of hyperechoic particles in both allantoic and amniotic fluids were possible signs of fetal distress. Despite the size of the fetus and the deep bovine abdomen, fetal transabdominal ultrasonography can be performed in cattle. This preliminary study points to the necessity of further larger studies for defining normal and abnormal findings in bovine late pregnancy.

Retrospective case study of fetal mummification in cows that did not respond to prostaglandin F2alpha treatment.

Mummification of bovine fetuses is an uncommon condition, and cows do not always respond to treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha. The objective of the present retrospective and descriptive case study was to determine the conception rate and survival time of nonresponsive, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha)-treated cows (n = 14), following hysterotomy or medical treatment and manual removal. Animal records from 1990 to 2005 from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV) of the Université de Montréal were studied. Inclusion criteria were the nonexpulsion of the mummified fetus following PF2alpha treatment and absence of concomitant conditions upon physical examination. Of the animals included in the study, 36% (n = 5) became pregnant after extraction of the mummified fetus by hysterotomy and 0% conceived after medical treatment and manual extraction. In this study, hysterotomy represented an effective approach for extracting mummified fetuses from cows that did not respond to PF2alpha treatment.

Twin pregnancy experimental model for transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction in mares.

Multiple pregnancies are still an important cause of noninfectious abortion, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and significant delays in reproductive performance in mares. Despite new management techniques, reduction in multiple pregnancies is an ongoing preoccupation and challenge for the equine veterinarian. The aim of the present study was to establish a twin pregnancy experimental model in the mare to study the effectiveness of a transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryonic vesicle injection. Mares in heat were inseminated and then received an embryo at day 7 of the estrous cycle. At days 14 and 30, 53.5% (n = 23) and 23% (n = 10) of the mares, respectively, were carrying twins. Twin pregnancies were reduced at day 30 by transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncture of the embryonic vesicle (control, n = 5) or by transvaginal ultrasound-guided injection (TVUEVI) of 25 mg of amikacin into the embryonic vesicle (n = 5). The TVUEVI treatment had a 40% success rate and no significant variations in progesterone and prostaglandin metabolite were observed. Even though the technique does not seem very effective, the experimental model could be useful for clinical research in embryo reduction and early embryonic loss.

Accuracy of a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure progesterone in mares.

The aim of this study was to validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the measurement of progesterone (P4) in mares. Specifically, the objectives were as follows: (1) to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA test for determination of P4, (2) to measure the potential agreement between the 2 people performing the test, and 3) to evaluate the effect of time on the outcome. Ten mares were sampled on the day before ovulation (D-1), and on days 1 (D1), 3 (D3), and 5 (D5) following ovulation, during the reproductive season. While mares were cycling regularly, estrus was induced by the injection of 5 mg of prostaglandin (PGF2) and monitored starting on the 4th day by daily transrectal palpation and ultrasonography to determine the time of ovulation. Blood was collected and all samples (n=96) were assayed for P4 by a semiquantitative ELISA, by chemiluminescent immunoassay, and by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Based on the RIA, values of P4 on D-1, D1, D3, and D5 were significantly different (P < 0.0001) with mean and standard deviation(s) of 0.004, s = 0.52; 2.05, s = 2.58; 8.37, s = 4.17; and 12.76, s = 4.00 ng/mL respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the semiquantitative assay were 94% and 95%, respectively for the lowest values of P4 (< 1.0 ng/mL). The value of kappa was 0.90 between 2 individuals performing the test. In conclusion, these results suggest that the semiquantitative test may be used reliably and economically to evaluate P4 levels in equine plasma in the clinical

Fetal well-being assessment in bovine near-term gestations: current knowledge and future perspectives arising from comparative medicine.

Cloning technology is associated with multiple losses throughout pregnancy and in the neonatal period. Any maternal or fetal disease can compromise pregnancy. A paucity of data are available on bovine fetal well-being in late pregnancy; development of well-being assessment methods might augment early diagnosis of abnormal pregnancy or fetal distress, allowing early intervention. This review presents the current knowledge on fetal well-being based on bovine, ovine, equine, and human studies, as well as interesting research parameters that have been studied in other species and not yet investigated in cattle. Transabdominal ultrasonography allows for diagnosis of large placentomes and hydrallantois that frequently accompany clone pregnancies. Fetal inactivity or large hyperechoic particles imaged within the fetal annexes are associated with fetal distress or death, and should be reassessed to confirm compromised pregnancy. Measurements of different fetal parameters (thoracic aorta, metacarpal or metatarsal thickness) could be reliable tools for early detection of the large offspring syndrome commonly found in cloned calves.

Clinical diagnosis of uterine didelphia in Ayrshire heifer.

A 24-month-old Ayrshire heifer was referred because of infertility. A clinical diagnosis of uterus didelphys was established after a complete genital examination before the animal was culled from the herd.

Ovarian vascular hamartoma in a cow.

A 5-year-old Holstein cow was examined for a unilateral enlarged ovary. A clinical diagnosis of ovarian tumor was established before a histological diagnosis of ovarian vascular hamartoma was made. Ovarian vascular hamartoma has not been reported previously in a live animal.