Clinical response after chitosan microparticle administration and preliminary assessment of efficacy in preventing metritis in lactating dairy cows.
The objectives were to evaluate the clinical response to intrauterine administration of chitosan microparticles (CM) and to assess efficacy for preventing metritis in dairy cows. Holstein cows (n=104; 40 primiparous and 64 multiparous) at increased risk for metritis (cows that had abortion, dystocia, twins, stillbirth, or retained placenta) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments at 1d in milk (DIM; 24h postpartum): CM group (n=52), daily intrauterine infusion of 8g of CM dissolved in 40mL of sterile water for 5d; control (CON) group (n=52), daily intrauterine infusion of 40mL of sterile water for 5d. Clinical response was assessed by evaluation of parameters associated with inflammation (rectal temperature and plasma haptoglobin concentration) and metabolism [plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations] up to 14 DIM, and daily milk yield up to 30 DIM. Uterine discharge pH was evaluated at 4, 7, 10, and 14 DIM as an indicator of bacterial load and acid byproduct production. The cumulative incidence of metritis was evaluated up to 4, 7, 10, and 14 DIM. Continuous and dichotomous outcomes were evaluated with mixed linear and logistic regression analysis, respectively. Treatment with CM did not affect rectal temperature (39.17±0.04 vs. 39.14±0.04°C), haptoglobin (1.10±0.05 vs. 1.07±0.05mg/mL), NEFA (0.64±0.04 vs. 0.63±0.04mmol/L), BHB (0.61±0.03 vs. 0.57±0.03mmol/L), or milk yield (30.3±0.92 vs. 30.1±0.97kg/d) compared with CON. An interaction between treatment and time showed that NEFA concentrations were lower for CM than CON at 10 DIM (0.46±0.06 vs. 0.64±0.06mmol/L). Treatment with CM resulted in greater uterine discharge pH than CON (6.91±0.03 vs. 6.83±0.02). Cows that developed metritis had increased concentrations of haptoglobin and BHB, and decreased uterine discharge pH and milk yield. Treatment with CM resulted in decreased incidence of metritis up to 7 DIM compared with CON (46.2 vs. 65.4%); however, no differences were found at 4 (11.5 vs. 17.3%), 10 (61.5 vs. 73.1%), and 14 DIM (63.5 vs. 73.1%) for CM versus CON, respectively. In conclusion, CM did not alter clinical parameters of cows at risk for metritis, and may merit further investigation for prevention of metritis. However, the duration of treatment may have to be extended to effectively reduce the incidence of metritis during the high-risk period.
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Daetz
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Cunha
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Bittar
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Risco
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508 270, Brazil.
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Magalhaes
School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori, 034-8628, Japan.
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Maeda
Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Santos
Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610; Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
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Jeong
Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Burns 97720.
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Cooke
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610; D. H. Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610. Electronic address: galvaok@ufl.edu.
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Galvão
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004716:Endometritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008892:Milk / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D012307:Risk Factors; D014599:Uterus
D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006242:Haptoglobins; D048271:Chitosan; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
chitosan microparticles; dairy cow; metritis