Publikationsdatenbank

Intrauterine application of enzymes for the treatment of chronic endometritis in dairy cattle (2004)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Drillich, M.

Raab, D.

Wittke, M.

Heuwieser, W.

Kongress

XXIII World Buiatrics Congress

Quebec/Kanada, 11. – 16.07.2004

Quelle

Le medecin veterinaire du Quebec 34, (1,2)

— S. 140

Sprache

Englisch

Kontakt

Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung

Königsweg 65
Haus 27
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62618
fortpflanzungsklinik@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Chronic endometritis in dairy cattle is associated with decreased reproductive
performance and economic losses to the farmer. The treatment is based on the
use of PGF2α and its analogues, or the intrauterine application of antibiotics or
disinfectants. The efficacy of PGF2α and antibiotics is well documented.
However, due to the risk of residues and resistances, the use of hormones and
antibiotics in food producing animals is under critical public discussion. The use
of proteolytic enzymes is established in the non-antibiotic treatment of mastitis
in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of enzymes in
the treatment of chronic endometritis. In a field trial, cows with vaginal
discharge diagnosed 21-27 days post partum (dpp) were randomly assigned to
two treatment groups. Endometritis was classified into three categories,
depending on the type of vaginal discharge: clear mucus with flakes of pus
(E 1), mucopurulent discharge (E 2), and purulent discharge (E 3). Cows in
Group A (n=192) received an intrauterine infusion containing the enzymes
trypsin, chymotrypsin, and papain. Cows in Group B (n=228) were treated with
0.5 mg of the PGF2α-analogue cloprostenol. All cows were re-examined 35 to
41 dpp. In Group A, cows were re-treated with enzymes if signs of endometritis
were found, while in Group B all cows received a second injection of
cloprostenol regardless of clinical findings. After a voluntary wait period of 72
days cows were bred following an observed estrus. Clinical cure rate after the
first treatment was 59.4 % and 68.1 % in groups A and B, respectively (p>0.05).
Days to first service, conception rates, percentages of cows pregnant and days
open were not significantly different between the groups. In both groups,
clinical cure rate and reproductive performance were better for cows with E1 or
E 2 than with E3, respectively. From the results of this study, it may be
concluded that the local use of proteolytic enzymes is a promising approach for
the treatment of chronic endometritis in dairy cows. However, PGF2α is still the
treatment of choice for chronic endometritis.