oxytetracycline--anhydrous and flunixin

Retention of the foetal membranes (RFM) and post-partal endometritis are common problems in dairy cows. Among other things, the disease is characterized by a bacterial endometritis with aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria. From an endocrine perspective, cows with RFM have high levels of 15-ketodihydro-PGF(2 alpha) (PG-metabolite) immediately after parturition but these levels fall rapidly within 2 weeks post-partum (early PG-metabolite elevation). After this decline, the PG-metabolite levels increase again and the levels (at this time of a lower magnitude) remain elevated during the period of uterine infection (late PG-metabolite elevation). The aim of this study was to investigate the PG-metabolite profiles in cows with retained placenta and post-partal endometritis treated with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor flunixin (F), either alone or in combination with oxytetracycline (T). The study was accomplished over 2 years with 12 primiparous cows in each experiment. As a model for RFM, preterm parturition was induced in late-pregnant heifers by injecting PGF(2 alpha) (25 mg i.m) twice with a 24 h interval. In each experiment, the cows were divided into four groups and treated with either T (10 mg/kg b.w. i.m. once daily), F (2.2 mg/kg b.w. p.o. twice per day), a combination of T and F (dosage, as above), or conservatively (0). The treatment periods lasted from day 11 to day 14 post-partum (pp) in experiment 1 (after placental shedding, groups T1, F1, TF1 and 0) and from day 3 to day 6 pp in experiment 2 (before placental shedding, groups T2, F2, TF2 and 0). Jugular vein blood samples were collected for analyses of PG-metabolite and flunixin. Uterine biopsies were collected twice weekly for investigation of endometrial microbiology. Rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examinations were performed three times per week for investigations of uterine and cervical involution and ovarian activity. No attempts were made to remove the placentas manually. The experiment lasted until day 56 pp. The induction of parturition was successful in all heifers and 22 of 24 animals had RFM. All RFM cows had bacterial endometritis, based on bacteriological examinations. Flunixin treatment (F1, TF1, F2 and TF2) suppressed PG-metabolite levels significantly (p=0.006) during the period of treatment in both experiments. However, the early flunixin treatment only suppressed PG synthesis partially. Late oxytetracycline treatment (T1) did not influence the PG-metabolite level

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Clonixin; Dinoprost; Endometritis; Female; Oxytetracycline; Parity; Placenta, Retained; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Time Factors; Uterus

Retention of the fetal membranes and post-partal endometritis (RFM) are common problems in dairy cows. Treatment often includes manual removal of the placenta in combination with antibiotic treatment. Earlier studies have shown that cows with endometritis post-partum have a strong tendency to recover spontaneously. The present study focused on treatments of post-partal endometritis with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, flunixin (F) either alone or combined with oxytetracycline (T). The study was conducted in two experiments, using 12 primiparous cows in each. As a model for RFM, premature parturition was induced in late pregnant heifers by injecting PGF2alpha (25 mg i.m.) twice with a 24 h interval. In each experiment the cows were set into four groups and treated with either T (10 mg/kg BW i.m. once daily), F (2.2 mg/kg BW p.o. twice daily), a combination of T and F (dosage, as above) or conservatively (group 0, no drugs). The treatment periods lasted from days 11-14 post-partum in experiment I (groups T1, F1, TF1 and 0) and from days 3-6 post-partum in experiment 2 (groups T2, F2, TF2 and 0). Jugular vein blood samples were collected for analyses of flunixin and total white blood cells. Uterine biopsies were collected twice weekly for investigation of endometrial microbiology. Rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examinations were performed three times weekly for investigations of uterine involution and ovarian activity. No attempts were made to remove the placentas manually. The experiment lasted until day 56 post-partum. The induction of parturition was successful in all heifers and 22 of 24 animals had RFM. All RFM cows had bacterial endometritis. The predominant bacteria were Escherichia coli alpha-haemolytic streptococci, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Arcanobacterium (Actinomyces) pyogenes, Bacteroides spp., Pasteurella spp. and Proteus spp. Fusobacterium necrophorum and A. pyogenes could be isolated for 3-5 weeks post-partum and E. coli Pasteurella and Proteus could be isolated for 2-3 weeks post-partum. Animals treated with tetracycline after placental shedding (T1 and TF1) had a more rapid recovery from infections with A. pyogenes and F. necrophorum than animals that were not treated with tetracycline. No other genera were affected. Antibiotic treatment before placental shedding (T2 and TF2) did not shorten the uterine infection but altered the bacterial flora, seen as an overgrowth of Proteus spp. (p < 0.05) and increased frequency of Paste

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Bacterial Infections; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Clonixin; Dairying; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endometritis; Female; Injections, Intramuscular; Leukocyte Count; Milk; Oxytetracycline; Parity; Placenta, Retained; Pregnancy; Puerperal Infection; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography; Uterus