J Vet Sci.  2009 Dec;10(4):337-341. 10.4142/jvs.2009.10.4.337.

Associations between the clinical signs of chronic endometritis with ovarian cysts and body condition loss in German Holstein Friesian cows

Affiliations
  • 1Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra str. 11, 54627, Greece. gtsousis@googlemail.com
  • 2Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gottingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Germany.
  • 3Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Germany.

Abstract

The objective of this retrospective field study was to associate the type and smell of discharge, the size of the uterus, the ovarian and treatment status, and the time to diagnosis of animals with chronic clinical endometritis (CCE) with the incidence of ovarian cysts and with a marked loss in body condition in German Holstein Friesian cows. Two hundred and sixty-four cows diagnosed with CCE from day 14 to day 42 postpartum participated in this study. In addition, 100 days milk production and the parity of the animals were included in the analysis. With the use of logistic regression, a purulent vaginal discharge (>or = 50% pus), the decision not to treat the animals for CCE and a high 100 days milk production proved to be significant factors for the incidence of ovarian cysts. Additionally, the type of discharge showed interactions with the parity and the smell of the discharge, as more animals with fetid and purulent discharge and more animals in the first lactation with a purulent discharge developed ovarian cysts. A high milk production and the parity showed associations with an excessive body condition score loss. Additionally, more animals with a diagnosis of an oversized uterus in comparison to cows with an early involution experienced a considerable reduction in their nutritional condition.

Keyword

body condition score; endometritis; ovarian cysts

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases/*pathology
Chronic Disease
Endometritis/complications/pathology/*veterinary
Female
Lactation
Models, Biological
Ovarian Cysts/complications/pathology/*veterinary
Parity
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors

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