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Relationship of vaginal discharge characteristics evaluated by Metricheck device to metabolic status in postpartum dairy cows
Author(s) -
Kawashima Chiho,
Suwanai Masashi,
Honda Toshihiko,
Teramura Makoto,
Kida Katsuya,
Hanada Masaaki,
Miyamoto Akio,
Matsui Motozumi
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13255
Subject(s) - vaginal discharge , obstetrics , zoology , medicine , gynecology , biology
Contents The relationship between vaginal discharge characteristics and metabolic status has been studied in postpartum dairy cows. Vaginal discharges at 2–6 weeks postpartum were scored weekly on a 1 (clear) to 5 (purulent material with stench) scale using the Metricheck device and classified into three groups as follows: Endometritis group ( n = 19), greater than or equal to score 4 until 3 weeks postpartum; Delayed involution group ( n = 9), score 2 or 3 after having score 1; Healthy group ( n = 23), cows except those belonging to the Delayed involution and Endometritis groups. The uterus and cervix were assessed using ultrasonography. Blood samples were collected twice weekly from 1 to 6 weeks postpartum from all cows and were additionally obtained for 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto‐prostaglandin F2α (PGFM) measurements from multiparous cows. Cows with delayed involution had delayed onset of luteal activity ( p < 0.05) and higher serum urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations ( p < 0.01) than healthy animals. Cows with endometritis had more peripartum diseases ( p < 0.05), lower milk yield ( p < 0.05), longer cervix diameter ( p < 0.05), and lower serum albumin ( p < 0.01), total cholesterol ( p < 0.01), and magnesium ( p < 0.01) concentrations, and higher aspartate aminotransferase levels ( p < 0.05) than healthy cows. Plasma PGFM concentrations tended to be higher in the Delayed involution group ( p = 0.083) and lower in the Endometritis group ( p = 0.085) than in the Healthy group. In summary, delayed involution was shown to be associated with higher BUN concentration, and endometritis may have been caused by peripartum diseases and hepatic dysfunction.