ENDOMETRITE SUBCLÍNICA APÓS O TRATAMENTO DE VACAS COM ENDOMETRITE CLÍNICA

Subclinical endometritis causes negative effects on reproductive performance how decreased conception rates and prolonged days open. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of subclinical endometritis (SE) at 42 days in milk (DIM) in cows that were diagnosed with clinical endometritis between 21 and 28 DIM and treated with uterine infusion of oxytetracycline. 54 crossbreed dairy cows were divided into two groups: GC (n=34), animals that demonstrated physiological parturition and puerperium, based on the proposed clinical evaluation and without being treated; GT (n=20), cows with endometritis received uterine infusion (4 g of oxytetracycline) between 21 and 28 DIM. Cows were examined at parturition and at days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 42 DIM. The following procedures were performed: vital parameters and body condition score evaluation; gynecological exams and endometrial cytology using the cytobrush technique. There was no difference (P=0.69) in the percentage of clear vaginal mucus between groups at 42 DIM, that demonstrated the same clinical evolution. At 42 DIM, there was significant difference (P<0.001) in the occurrence of SE between GC (14.8%) and GT (80%) cows; and, endometrial cytology demonstrated significant differences in all cells that were evaluated between GC and GT cows: neutrophils (39.9 ± 6.6; 54.6 ± 3.3 - p<0.001); endometrial epithelial cells (95.9 ± 8.0; 39.6 ± 40 - p<0.001); macrophages (0.1 ± 0.3; 1.1 ± 1.0 - p=0.016); lymphocytes (0.6 ± 1.9; 3.9 ± 4.2 - p<0.001); and eosinophils (0.1 ± 0.2; 0.8 ± 2.0 - p=0.113), respectively. Although cows with clinical endometritis demonstrated response to treatment with clinical parameters, uterine involution and vaginal discharge similar to cows with physiological postpartum, there was an elevated incidence of subclinical endometritis (80%) which has a negative effect on reproductive performance..