Study of the inflammatory reaction associated with normal delivery and fetal membranes retention in dairy cows

Retained fetal membranes is the main immediate postpartum complication affe cting reproductive performances in cows. The aim of this study is to determ ine the inflammatory reaction modifications associated with retained fetal membranes. caruncular and allantochorionic tissues were preleved in cows wi th normal delivery, (n = 31) and those affected by retained fetal membranes (n = 14), six hours after calving. Samples were fixed in formol, included in paraffin, divided into in 3 mu fine slides and stained with hemalun-eosi ne. Results showed that normal delivery was dominated by 0 and I stages of infl ammation respectively in 61,3 % and 25,8 % of cases. Stages II and III of i nflammation was only observed in 3,2 % of cases. Retained fetal membranes w as associated with more intense inflammation. Stages 0, I, II and m of infl ammation were respectively observed in 42,8 %, 21,4 %, 21,4 % and 14,4 % of cases. These modifications were essentially located at allantochorionic ti ssue and retained fetal membrane seem to be a fetal desease.