Course and severity of postpartum metritis cases following antibiotic and PGF2α administration in postpartum metritis cows infected with BoHV-4.
Forty cows between day 1 and day 21 post-calving were examined for the presence of postpartum metritis in a dairy herd that had recently experienced an increase in metritis and that had previously tested positive against bovine herpes virus 4 (BoHV-4) by various methods. Antibodies against BoHV-4 were detected in sera from 15 of 22 cows. For the virological study, uterine swab samples of 22 cows with metritis were used and tested for BoHV-4 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), virus isolation (VI), and immunofluorescence techniques. Twenty-two point seven per cent (5/22) of the vaginal discharge samples obtained from cows with metritis were found positive for BoHV-4 DNA by PCR. All of these samples were also positive in VI and/or immune fluorescence assay (IF). Swab samples were also tested for bacteria. Empirical therapy with a broad spectrum antibiotic (oxytetracycline) was administrated, pending culture and antibiotic sensitivity result. All cows with puerperal metritis or clinical metritis (CM) were treated with intra-uterine (i.u.) administration of oxytetracycline and with intramuscular (i.m.) injections of dinoprost tromethamine (PGF(2)α) for three consecutive days. Concurrently, with the administration of oxytetracycline and PGF(2)α, cows with a rectal temperature >39.5°C received an additional treatment with oxytetracycline (i.m) for three consecutive days. According to the antibiotic test result, on day 3 after the last oxytetracycline and PGF(2)α administrations, all cows were treated with a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (i.u.) for three consecutive days. All cows with metritis and that were positive for BoHV-4 recovered clinically after the administration of antibiotic and PGF(2)α. In conclusion, postpartum metritis cases in cows infected BoHV-4 recovered clinically following early diagnosis and prolonged treatments with a combination of antibiotics and PGF(2)α.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uludag University Veterinary Faculty, Bursa, Turkey. deniznak@gmail.com
Y
Y
Nak
S B
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Dagalp
C
C
Cetin
D
D
Nak
F
F
Alkan
E
E
Borum
B
B
Tuna
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D026021:Herpesvirus 4, Bovine; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000276:immunology; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014421:Turkey; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D047090:beta-Lactams; D015237:Dinoprost; C010714:dinoprost tromethamine; D010118:Oxytetracycline