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Treatment of Infectious Endometritis with a Novel Protein, VPI‐O22, in Cows
Author(s) -
Talukder Jamil,
Srivastava Ajay,
Ray Abhijit,
Lall Rajiv
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.882.12
Subject(s) - endometritis , metritis , vaginal discharge , mucus , antibiotics , medicine , chocolate agar , gram staining , andrology , agar , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , gynecology , pregnancy , ice calving , lactation , ecology , genetics
Background Endometritis, usually caused by an infection in 7–20% of dairy cows within 10 days of postpartum, deteriorates health, decreases milk production, and causes a huge economic loss to farms. In addition, treatment of infectious endometritis with antibiotics raises concern about the development of bacterial resistance. Therefore, an alternative remedy of antibiotics is desirable. Aims A natural, novel protein, VPI‐O22 could inhibit bacterial infection and restore uterine tone and health. Methods Cows with clinical endometritis (n=4) were identified based on the clinical signs, rectal temperature, score of mucus characteristics, total polymorph numbers, pH of uterine discharge, uterine swab analysis, and bacterial culture, along with healthy cows (control, n=4). Two hundred ml of VPI‐O22 (5%) were infused intrauterine with a special pipette attached to a pump in the treatment group. Seven days later, all the above parameters were reexamined. Total number of polymorph in uterine discharge was counted using a hemocytometer, stained with Giemsa and Gram stain. Bacterial culture was performed on blood agar, nutrient broth, and nutrient agar media and were identified using Gram stain. Zone of inhibition studies were performed with different concentrations of VPI‐O22 and 0.1% of chlorhexamide as a positive control. Results Rectal temperature was higher in cows with endometritis and was found to be normal after one week of VPI‐O22 treatment. Mean pH of uterine discharge from metritis cows was 8.8 (control 6.8) and changed to 7.0 after one week of VPI‐O22 treatment. Mucus score was 6 times higher, and total number of polymorph was more than 70 times higher in cows with metritis and significantly (p<0.01) reduced (2 and 4 times higher, respectively, compared with control) after VPI‐O22 treatment. Bacterial culture of uterine swab demonstrated the presence of different types of bacteria including gram positive, gram negative, α‐ and β‐hemolytic, rods, and cocci. Zone of inhibition studies with different concentrations of VPI‐O22 demonstrated that 5% would be more than enough to kill all types of bacteria found in these studies. Conclusion VPI‐O22 is a potent antimicrobial protein and has the ability to kill different types of bacteria in in‐vitro and clinical applications. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .