title: Immunological aspects of metritis in dairy cows: a review.
abstract: This paper reviews puerperal metritis in the cow, particularly the complex and multi-factorial pathogenesis characterized by an altered cross-talk among infectious agents, endocrine and immune systems. Uterine infections impair fertility and is one of the main causes of economic losses in dairy production. The early postpartum is a period characterized by an increased exposition to infectious agents and the disruption of the metabolic homeostasis, leading to endocrine and immunologic disorders. Dysregulation of uterine defence mechanisms results in the development of metritis. Because there is a complex interaction between infectious, endocrine and immune factors during metritis, there is need to use safer and cheaper drugs which are able to strengthen the anti-infective actions of the routine therapies.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Onghia
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Onghia
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roncetti
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccinno
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mutinati
authors.forename: Michele Roberto
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Terlizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of the Emergency and Organ Transplantation (D.E.T.O.) - Section of Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Strada prov.le per Casamassima km 3 - 70010, Valenzano (BA), Italy. raffaeleluigi.sciorsci@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Raffaele Luigi
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sciorsci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003612:Dairying; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D007774:Lactation / Q000276:immunology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology