J Vet Sci.  2018 Mar;19(2):301-308. 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.2.301.

Cytological endometritis in dairy cows: diagnostic threshold, risk factors, and impact on reproductive performance

• Lee SC
• Jeong JK
• Choi IS
• Kang HG
• Jung YH
• Park SB
• Kim IH

• KMID: 2407630
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2018.19.2.301

Abstract

We determined the threshold proportion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) for a diagnosis of cytological endometritis (CEM), the risk factors for this condition, and its impact on reproductive performance in dairy cows. Uterine cytology was performed on 407 Holstein cows 4 weeks postpartum to determine the proportions of endometrial cells and PMNs. A receiver operator characteristics curve was used to determine the threshold above which the PMN proportion affected the likelihood of cows conceiving by 200 days postpartum. The optimal threshold was ≥ 14% PMN (sensitivity, 31.3%; specificity, 81.7%; p < 0.05). The farm identity, retained placenta (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87), and septicemic metritis (OR = 3.07) were risk factors for CEM (p < 0.05). Cows with CEM were less likely to resume cyclicity (OR = 0.58) and to conceive by 200 days postpartum (hazard ratio = 0.58). Cows with CEM tended (p < 0.1) to be less likely to become pregnant after their first insemination (OR = 0.65) and to require a greater number of inseminations per conception (2.3 vs. 2.2). In conclusion, a PMN threshold of 14% defined the presence of CEM at 4 weeks postpartum. The farm, retained placenta, and septicemic metritis were risk factors for CEM, which reduces subsequent reproductive performance.

Keyword

cytological endometritis; dairy cow; polymorphonuclear leukocyte; reproductive performance; risk factors

MeSH Terms

Agriculture
Diagnosis
Endometritis*
Female
Fertilization
Insemination
Neutrophils
Periodicity
Placenta, Retained
Postpartum Period
Risk Factors*
Sensitivity and Specificity

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Microscopic observation of the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) among the total number of epithelial endometrial cells and PMNs obtained from uterine cytology samples (A: 0%, B: 15%, C: 25%, D: 50%). Large and small arrows indicate epithelial endometrial cells and PMNs, respectively. Diff-Quick stain, 400×. Scale bars = 20 µm (A–D).

• 

  Fig. 2 Receiver operating characteristic curve representing the cytological endometritis threshold. The threshold was set at 14% polymorphonuclear leukocytes at 4 weeks postpartum (sensitivity, 31.3%; specificity, 81.7%; area under the curve, 0.565; p < 0.05).

• 

  Fig. 3 Survival curves for the interval between calving and conception in cows with and without cytological endometritis (CEM). The chance of conception by 200 days postpartum was lower (hazard ratio = 0.58; p = 0.0001) in cows with CEM than in cows without CEM. The median and mean days to conception were 191 and 160.6 ± 4.3 in cows with CEM, and 144 and 141.2 ± 3.3 in cows without CEM, respectively.

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