Cytological Characteristics of Endometritis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

In the last decades, related to increased milk yield, the reproductive performance has rapidly decreased in dairycows, especially in the Holstein breed. Although milk yield is negatively associated with reproductive-performance, there are other additional factors which affect the fertility in dairy cattle, such as animal health-condition, management and balanced rations. Additionally, physiologic dysfunctions, such as uterine infections, areelements which are responsible for decreased reproductive performance and fertility in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to obtain a clear view over normal cell clusters in cow`s vagina and uterus, so this information will be useful for comparison in future examination related to rapid cytology diagnosis. Neutrophils are the first and most significant inflammatorycell involved in endometritis, but are also foremost duringnormal uterine involution. The inflammatory cell response in cases of subclinical endometritis is widely believed to bequantifiably more severe than that associated with normalinvolution yet milder than clinical endometritis. Such cytological diagnostic approach is useful for both – normal and infected vagina/uterus with or without presence of discharge. Vaginoscopy is a rapid and simple technique for thediagnosis of purulent vaginal discharge. Clear mucus isnormal, whereas purulent and foul-smellingdischarge are indicative of disease. Other ways of detecting uterine dischargehave been studied, including the gloved handand theMetricheck device (Simcrotech, Hamilton, New Zealand). The results show clear relation between cytological positive diagnosis and affected condition of the reproductive function.