Comparison of two methods of detecting purulent vaginal discharge in postpartum dairy cows and effect of intrauterine cephapirin on reproductive performance.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Part 1: compare the use of a Metricheck device (a stainless steel probe with a semi-spherical rubber cup attached at one end) to sample the contents of the anterior vagina with a vaginal speculum examination for the diagnosis of pus in the vagina of postpartum dairy cows and to investigate the association of that pus with reproductive performance. Part 2: assess the effect of a single intrauterine infusion of 500 mg cephapirin in cows diagnosed with vaginal purulent or mucopurulent discharge 7 to 28 days after calving on reproductive performance.

PROCEDURE:

Six herds were visited fortnightly to examine cows that had calved between 7 and 28 days (n = 423) with both the Metricheck device and a vaginal speculum to score, by each method, the vaginal discharge from 0 (clear or absent) to 3 (purulent) for each animal included in the study. Half of the cows that had a positive discharge score (1 to 3 by either examination method) were then treated with an intrauterine infusion of 500 mg of cephapirin. The relationship between Metricheck score, vaginoscopy score, treatment and reproductive performance was assessed.

RESULTS:

There was a substantial measure of agreement between each method when scores were analysed by status. Cows that were positive with either method had inferior reproductive performance compared with cows with a score of zero. Treatment of cows diagnosed with a purulent or mucopurulent discharge with intrauterine cephapirin improved reproductive performance in both the vaginoscopy and Metricheck groups.

• Authors: D J Runciman, G A Anderson, J Malmo
• Journal: Australian veterinary journal (Aust Vet J) Vol. 87 Issue 9 Pg. 369-78 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1751-0813 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19703140 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Cephapirin

Topics

• Administration, Intravaginal
• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cattle
• Cattle Diseases (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Cephapirin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological (instrumentation, veterinary)
• Endometritis (diagnosis, drug therapy, veterinary)
• Endoscopy (veterinary)
• Female
• Postpartum Period
• Puerperal Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy, veterinary)
• Reproduction (physiology)
• Suppuration (diagnosis, drug therapy, veterinary)
• Vaginal Discharge (diagnosis, drug therapy, veterinary)