dinoprost and Streptococcal-Infections

Four intrauterine treatment strategies were evaluated for effectiveness in mares that were confirmed to be susceptible to chronic uterine infection. Pretreatment samples were obtained at detection of estrus, and a genital strain of Streptococcus zooepidemicus was infused into the uterus when a preovulatory (> 35 mm) follicle was detected. At 12 hours after inoculation, mares were assigned to 1 of 4 selected treatment groups: autologous plasma, 100 ml (n = 5); potassium penicillin, 5 million U in 100 ml of phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBSS; n = 5); 10 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha in 100 ml of PBSS (n = 5)' and large-volume lavage with normal saline solution (1,000 ml increments). A fifth group, treated with vehicle alone (100 ml of PBSS), served as a negative control (n = 7). All treatments were administered into the uterus. To assess the effectiveness of the treatment, samples for culture and cytologic examination were collected at 96 hours after bacterial inoculation. An effect of treatment was observed on the number of uterine neutrophils (P = 0.02) and growth of S zooepidemicus (P < 0.01). Intrauterine treatment with potassium penicillin, prostaglandin F2 alpha, and large-volume uterine lavage significantly reduced the growth of S zooepidemicus (P < 0.01) as well as the number of neutrophils (P < 0.02). Autologous plasma reduced the number of neutrophils (P < 0.05), but not growth of S zooepidemicus. There was significant correlation between the number of uterine neutrophils and growth of S zooepidemicus for each treatment group (r = 0.57; P < 0.05).

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Biopsy; Blood Transfusion, Autologous; Dinoprost; Disease Susceptibility; Endometrium; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Infertility, Female; Neutrophils; Penicillins; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus; Therapeutic Irrigation; Uterine Diseases; Uterus

Chronic, subclinical intramammary infection depresses fertility. We previously found that 30% of subclinical mastitic cows exhibit delayed ovulation, low circulating estradiol levels, and delayed luteinizing hormone surge. We examined the function of preovulatory follicles of cows experiencing subclinical mastitis or a past event of acute clinical mastitis. Cows were diagnosed for mastitis by somatic cell count and bacteriological examination. All clinical infections were caused by Escherichia coli, and most subclinical infections were caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae and coagulase-negative staphylococci. On day 6 of the cycle, cows received PGF2α; 42 h later, follicular fluids and granulosa cells or theca cells were aspirated from preovulatory follicles in vivo or following slaughter, respectively. Overall, follicular estradiol and androstenedione concentrations in the subclinical group (n = 28) were 40% lower (P < 0.05) than those in uninfected cows (n = 24) and lower than in past clinical mastitic cows (n = 9). Distribution analysis revealed a clear divergence among subclinical cows: one-third (9/28) exhibited low follicular estradiol; the other two-thirds had normal levels similar to all uninfected (P < 0.01) and most clinical cows (P < 0.08) that had normal follicular estradiol levels. Subclinical normal-estradiol cows had twofold higher (P < 0.05) circulating estradiol concentrations and sevenfold and fourfold higher (P < 0.05) follicular androstenedione levels and estradiol-to-progesterone ratio, respectively, than subclinical low-estradiol cows. Follicular progesterone level was not affected. Reduced expression (P < 0.05) of LHCGR in theca and granulosa cells, CYP11A1 (mRNA and protein) and CYP17A1 in theca cells, and CYP19A1 in granulosa cells may have contributed to the lower follicular steroid production in the subclinical low-estradiol subgroup. StAR and HSD3B1 in theca cells and FSHR in granulosa cells were not affected. Mastitis did not alter follicular growth dynamics, and no carryover effect of past clinical mastitis on follicular function was detected. These data indicate that a considerable proportion (one-third) of subclinical mastitic cows have abnormal follicular steroidogenesis, which can explain the reproductive failure associated with this disease.

Topics: Animals; Base Sequence; Cattle; Dinoprost; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Gene Expression; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis, Bovine; Membrane Proteins; Ovarian Follicle; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Steroid Hydroxylases; Steroids; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus

Bacterial cell walls contain peptidoglycan (PTG), which, among other actions, induces fever. The present experiment evaluated the effects of PTG treatment on early pregnancy and blood plasma concentrations of reproductive hormones. Ewes were injected i.v. with saline or 15, 30 or 60 microg kg(-1) sonicated PTG (Streptococcus pyogenes) on day 5 after mating. Each dose of PTG induced fever. Pregnancy rate at day 25 was not related to incidence of fever but tended to differ among treatments (control, 100%; low, 100%; medium, 67%; high, 60%; P < 0.08). Combined pregnancy rate in ewes from control and low dose groups (100%) was greater than that in ewes from medium and high dose groups (64%, P < 0.01). Ewes with high 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGFM) concentrations had lower pregnancy rates (6 of 10) than those with low concentrations of PGFM (11 of 11; P < 0.05). Mean cortisol concentrations were higher in treated (2.8 +/- 0.28 microg dl(-1)) than in control (1.1 +/- 0.03 microg dl(-1)) ewes (P < 0.01); the pattern of secretion was biphasic and increased in all treated ewes (P < 0.01). Neither means nor profiles of oestradiol differed with treatment. Mean concentrations and the pattern of concentrations of progesterone were reduced in all treated ewes, as indicated by the time by treatment and linear interaction with treatment (1.2 +/- 0.1 versus 1.6 +/- 0.1 ng ml(-1), P < 0.01). Patterns of LH pulses did not differ from 0 to 4 h or 24 to 28 h after treatment; mean plasma LH concentration was lower in ewes treated with 0, 15 or 30 microg PTG kg(-1) than with 60 microg PTG kg(-1) (P < 0.01). Pregnancy status was not related to plasma concentrations or patterns of LH, oestradiol, progesterone or cortisol. Inflammatory mediators, such as PGF(2alpha), may act directly on the embryo or uterus in ewes treated with PTG.

Topics: Abortion, Septic; Animals; Dinoprost; Estradiol; Female; Fever; Hydrocortisone; Luteinizing Hormone; Peptidoglycan; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes

A 19-year-old Quarter Horse mare was evaluated because of bloody vaginal discharge that was apparent immediately following breeding. On transrectal ultrasonography, it was evident that the uterus was filled with fluid containing echogenic particles; linear hyperechoic structures were also visible. Endoscopy was performed, which revealed a number of bones adhered to the cranial wall and floor of the right uterine horn as well as purulent fluid in both uterine horns. Bacterial endometritis and fetal maceration were diagnosed. The mare was treated with antibiotics, and the fetal bones were manually removed from the uterus. Fetal maceration with intrauterine retention of bones is rare in mares. Use of hysteroscopy supplements ultrasonography in the diagnosis of uncommon conditions of the uterus. Macerated bones may be adhered to the endometrium, thereby requiring manual removal.

Topics: Abortion, Veterinary; Animals; Bone and Bones; Cattle; Dinoprost; Endometritis; Female; Fetus; Horse Diseases; Horses; Hysteroscopy; Oxytocics; Pregnancy; Progesterone; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus equi; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Ultrasonography; Uterus; Vaginal Discharge

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene-targeted mice (GM-/-) cleared group B streptococcus (GBS) from the lungs more slowly than wild-type mice. Expression of GM-CSF in the respiratory epithelium of GM-/- mice improved bacterial clearance to levels greater than that in wild-type GM+/+ mice. Acute aerosolization of GM-CSF to GM+/+ mice significantly enhanced clearance of GBS at 24 hours. GBS infection was associated with increased neutrophilic infiltration in lungs of GM-/- mice, while macrophage infiltrates predominated in wild-type mice, suggesting an abnormality in macrophage clearance of bacteria in the absence of GM-CSF. While phagocytosis of GBS was unaltered, production of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide was markedly deficient in macrophages from GM-/- mice. Lipid peroxidation, assessed by measuring the isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2alpha, was decreased in the lungs of GM-/- mice. GM-CSF plays an important role in GBS clearance in vivo, mediated in part by its role in enhancing superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production and bacterial killing by alveolar macrophages.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Cytokines; Dinoprost; Disease Susceptibility; F2-Isoprostanes; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; Lung; Macrophages, Alveolar; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neutrophils; Nitrites; Phagocytosis; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae; Superoxides