title: Bacteriological findings and hormonal profiles in the postpartum Balady goats.
abstract: Twenty-six Balady goats categorized according to parity into primiparous and pluriparous goats were used to investigate bacterial flora of the genital tract and hormonal profiles during the postpartum (PP) period. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in pure or mixed culture from the uterus. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was isolated from swabs obtained from the vagina and cervix of one primiparous goat. Uteri and cervices but not vaginas were free of bacterial contamination by day 10 PP except for one pluriparous goat with scanty E. coli contamination on day 25 PP. Fluctuating oestradiol 17beta (E2) levels demonstrated resumption of follicular activity as early as day 13 PP in both parity groups. Progesterone (P4) levels remained low at basal levels throughout the study period. Higher concentrations of 15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha (PGFM) were observed during the first week PP compared with the rest of the PP period. PGFM concentrations dropped to low basal level by day 10 PP and remained constantly low throughout the study period. P4, E2 and PGFM profiles were not different between the different parity groups. In conclusion, intrauterine infection is not common in goats with normal kidding. E. coli was the most common intrauterine bacterial isolate. E2 and P4 profiles were consistent with resumption of follicular growth but not ovulation. High PGFM concentrations coincided with the fast regression phase of uterine involution. Hormonal profile and bacterial contamination and clearance were similar to those reported in other related species and not related to parity.
authors.affiliation: Jordan University of Science and Technology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Irbid, Jordan. ababneh@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ababneh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Degefa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000097:blood*; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014599:Uterus / Q000382:microbiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: C008228:15-keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2alpha; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015237:Dinoprost