Normal and Abnormal Uterine Involution in Cows Monitored by Ultrasound
Normal and Abnormal Uterine Involution in Cows Monitored by Ultrasound
Normal and Abnormal Uterine Involution in Cows Monitored by Ultrasound
Introduction
Success in cattle production and dairy cows housing represent very
important work, not only in territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also much
wider. To ensure successful dairy cows breeding, a lot of attention must be devoted
to keep good reproductive performances. By obtaining one calf per year, provides
not only an increase of livestock but likewise increase of produced milk through
increase of udder's secretory tissue during gestation (Peter et al., 2009).
After parturition begins period of puerperium, when reproductive system
returns to itself former pregravid state, so female can conceive again. Puerperium
lasts until reproductive functions are not fully restored, so that next gestation can
occur. Genital system however never fully returns to itself former pregravid state,
especially after first parturition, because certain changes are not fully reversible
(Mutevelić et al., 2003).
Four main events during puerperium are contraction of myometrium and
expel of lochia, elimination of bacterial contamination in genital system,
anatomical and hystological restoration of uterus and return of ovarian cyclicity
(Nakao et al., 1992; Peter et al., 2009). Before parturition uterine lumen is sterile.
During and after parturition bacteria can enter the birth canal and uterine lumen
from surroundings, as well as animal skin. A variety of different types of bacteria
can be isolated from within uterus in almost all cows 10 – 14 days postpartum
(Moschov et al., 1966). Appearance of these bacteria within uterus is common,
because it can be found in over 90% of cases regardless of the presence of clinical
signs (Földi et al., 2006).
During parturition physical barrier provided by cervix, vagina and vulva
cease to function, because cervix stays relaxed and open for a several days
postpartum, thereby possible entering of bacteria from vagina and skin of the
animal is enabled as well as their multiplication in liquid media within uterus.
Bacteria can be found in content of the uterus in 93% of cows in first 15 days after
parturition, while degree of infection decreases to 9% between 46 – 60 days
postpartum (Moschow et al., 1966).
Speed of involutive processes in the uterus just as subsequent reproductive
performances is dependable of several factors like: parity, season, nursing and
frequency of milking, climatic conditions where animals are held, quantity of
produced milk, quality of nutrition, breed and health problems before and after
parturition (Cerri et al., 2009; Kawashima et al., 2009; Mutevelić et al., 2003;
Nakao et al., 1992; Okano et al., 1987; Peter et al., 1988; Peter et al., 2009).
Frequency and duration of nursing by calf have significant effect for
producing surges of oxytocin which causes contraction of myometrium and expel
of tissue debris from the uterus (Leslie H.E. 1983). Researches represent that there
Normal and abnormal uterine ... 207
are differences in speed of involutive processes in the uterus through all four
seasons. According to (Buch et al 1955) time interval required for complete uterine
involution in cows which had normal parturition is 42 – 50 days. Average time
needed for complete involution is: spring 47 days, summer 42 days, autumn 44
days and winter 51 days.
Abnormalities in puerperium (retained fetal membranes, abnormal lochia
etc) which lead to subsequent reproductive disorders my appear up to 50% in the
herd, however if diagnostic and therapy of these cases carry out before 20 days
postpartum, those cows have better fertility than those treated later (Francos et al.,
1988).In 26 % of cows with clinical endometritis, there is signifficant detrimental
effect to fertility within two months postpartum (Gautam et al., 2009).
Identification of subclinical endometritis with standard methods is not always
reliable. Subclinical endometritis represents state where uterine swab contains
>18% neutrophiles 20 – 33 days postpartum or >10% neutrophiles 34 – 47 days
postpartum (Kasimanickam et al., 2004). This state is not possible to detect just
with routine transrectal examination, especially if cervix is closed and vaginal
mucus is not visible. Present anehogenic fluid with echogenic or hiperechogenic
„flakes“ visible at ultrasound monitor is used for making suspicion at endometritis
(Fissore et al., 1986), but most accurate is combination of ultrasonography and
uterine swab citology (Barlund et al., 2008).
Observation of involutive processes by ultrasound scanner in cows without
signs of abnormalities in puerperium, obtained results of measured uterine horn
diameter and wall thickness suggest that involution is probably completed after 40
days postpartum (Okano et al., 1987). Disturbed uterine function contribute to
early disappearance of corpus luteum developed after ovulation, shortening of
estrus cycle and reducing of pregnancy rate (Noakes 1997, Kamimura et al., 1993).
High and medium producing dairy cows equally show detrimental effects of
disturbed uterine function to reproductive performances (Gilbert et al., 2005,
Nakao et al., 1992).
The purpose of this research was to with aid of ultrasonic obtained results
of uterine status, determine period when involution is complete, in which cows it is
slowed, in which cows some pathological conditions of uterus are developing and
does the used method is recommendable for diagnostic of subclinical endometritis.
Results
During autumn and winter months (October, November, December,
January) out of total number of cows, one animal has died after series of puerperal
disorders accompanied with clinical signs of disease.
In cows with normal and abnormal puerperium all parameters of the uterus
were regularly noted. In first group there was no clinical signs of disease, vaginal
discharge was without unpleasant odour and later more bright. Remaining animals
with puerperium abnormalities did not had expressed clinical signs of disease, but
some of them had abnormal content in the uterus and lochia and few weeks later
they had mucopurulent and purulent vaginal discharge.
These abnormalities in health status of the uterus could be observed through
measured values of uterine horn diameter and wall thickness using ultrasonography.
Normal and abnormal uterine ... 209
amel1 Uterine
Uterine horn diameter benjo
horn w all thickness
60
50
40
mm
30
20
10
0
Normal puerperium Abnormal puerperium
Period 22 - 29 days
40
35
30
25
mm
20
15
10
5
0
Normal puerperium Abnormal puerperium
210 Čengić et al.
Period 38 - 45 days
30
25
20
mm
15
10
0
Normal puerperium Abnormal puerperium
50
45
40
35
30
mm
25
20
15
10
5
0
2 3 4 5 6 7
Weeks postpartum
Chart 4. Decreasing dimensions of uterine horn diameter and wall thickness in group
of normal puerperium.
50
45
40
35
30
mm
25
20
15
10
5
0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Weeks postpartum
Chart 5. Decreasing dimensions of uterine horn diameter and wall thickness in group
of abnormal puerperium.
and fifth week postpartum. In the last part of experimented period, dimensions for
uterine horn diameter and wall thickness continue to increase compared with group
of normal puerperium.
We can summarise that in the begining of experiment (6 – 13 days),
dimensions of uterine horn diameter and wall thickness are very similar, later (22 –
29 days) differences can be seen for both parameters in both groups and in the end
of experiment (38 – 45 days), group of abnormal puerperium still tend to have
increased dimensions of uterine horn diameter and wall thickness.
Results represent that normal puerperium in this study had 42% of cows,
52% of cows had minor, medium or more serious abnormality in puerperium and
10% of cows in experiment has developed endometritis at the end of research.
Discussion
Intensive exploitation and irregular management during early and late
puerperium result in decreasing or loss of reproductive performances (Buch et al.,
1955; Földi et al., 2006; Francos et al., 1988). According to Willams (Williams et
al., 1995) time interval from parturition to the end of involution lasts 23 – 42 days.
In same study it was found that the greatest number of cows (51,4%) completed
involution during period from 29 to 35 days postpartum. The most intensive
involution changes are developing up to 25 days postpartum, when uterine horn
Normal and abnormal uterine ... 213
Conclusions
and between fourth and fifth week remains at approximately same level
until involution has been completed.
2. Uterine involution in cows with normal puerperium has ended in time
period between 38 – 45 days postpartum.
3. Uterine involution in cows with moderate and severe puerperium
abnormalities during studied period was not fully completed because of
engaged inflammatory processes which interfere with it.
4. Uterine horn diameter and wall thickness in cows with abnormal
puerperium shows constantly larger measured values comparing with cows
with normal puerperium.
5. By ultrasonic examination of uterus during all periods of puerperium clear
insight in the mechanismus of involutive processes can be obtained and
speed of involution can be precisely expressed in the milimeters through
time periods, which can tell us when it is completed.
6. Cows with abnormal uterine status can be easily detected by
ultrasonography after obtained values of uterine horn diameter and wall
thickness, as well as by presence of uterine content and its characteristics
(anechogenic, echogenic, hiperechogenic).
7. On the basis of obtained ultrasonic findings we can prove in which time
period uterine involution is completed, when the animal is ready for next
artifitial insemination, are there some abnormalities in involutive processes
or there is inflammatory process within uterus.
Rezime
References
SHELDON I.M., LEWIS S.G., LEBLANC S., GILBERT O.R. (2006): Defining
postpartum uterine disease in cattle. Theriogenology 65, 1516-1530.
WILLIAMS E.J., FISCHER D.P., NOAKES D.E., ENGLAND G.C.W.,
RYCROFT A., ZAIN A. EL-DIN., NAKAO T., RAOUF M. ABDEL,
MORIYOSHI M., KAWATA K., MORITSU Y. (1995): Factors in the resumption
of ovarian activity and uterine involution in postpartum dairy cows. Animal
reproduction science 38, 203-214.