SPONTANEOUS UTERINE INFECTIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ELEVATED PROSTAGLANDIN-F2-ALPHA METABOLITE CONCENTRATIONS IN POSTPARTUM DAIRY-COWS

Postpartum Holstein (n=21) and Jersey (n=4) cows were used to determin e if uterine infections are associated with elevated plasma concentrat ions of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGFM). Based u pon clinical examinations and bacterial content of intrauterine fluid samples, cows detected with uterine infections between 21 and 28 d pos t partum were used (infected; n=14). These cows were matched with herd mates that were free of infection (control; n=11). Beginning on the da y the cows were assigned to the experiment (Day 1), blood samples were collected on alternate days for the next 14 to 15 d. Plasma samples w ere stored at -20 degrees C until assayed. From Day 1 until the end of the experiment, uterine fluid samples were collected transcervically twice weekly for aerobic bacterial culture. Endometrial biopsies were collected between Days 6 and 8 and Days 13 and 15. Control cows did no t show signs of uterine infection throughout the trial, and bacterial cultures indicated that there were no significant bacterial population s in the uteri of the control cows. The uteri of infected cows harbore d numerous microbes. Actinomyces pyogenes was most prominent. Various species of Streptococcus and Pasteurella were also prevalent in the in fected cows. Escherichia coli was present in the uterus of both infect ed and control cows. Biopsies showed that infected cows had more (P<0. 05) neutrophils, plasma cells and lymphocytes in the endometrium than did the control cows. As determined by plasma progesterone concentrati ons, 83 % of the control and 50 % of the infected cows had functional luteal tissue during the 2-wk sampling period. Plasma PGFM profiles we re linear (P<0.03) and did not differ between treatment groups (P>0.10 ). However, average plasma PGFM concentrations were greater (P<0.0001) in infected than in control cows. These data indicate that plasma PGF M concentrations are greater in postpartum cows with spontaneous uteri ne infections then in herdmates free of infection.