METRITIS & PYOMETRA IN

CATTLE

Dr. Jibachha Sah M.V.Sc

Senior Veterinary Physician
Jibachhas Veterinary Hospital R&D
Bharatpur-5,Lanku,Chitwan

General Tract Structures

Identify parts

Bifurcation
Uterine horn

Ovary

Uterine body
Cervix

Vagina

Identify parts

Broad Ligament

Mesometrium
Mesosalpinx
Mesovarium

Structures of Cut Reproductive Tract

Identify parts

Uterine body

Internal cervical os

Cervical folds or rings

Fornix of vagina

External cervical os
Vagina

Ovary

Identify parts

Tertiary follicle

Tertiary follicle

Corpus luteum

A Specific Region of the Reproductive Tract

Identify parts

Uterine horn

Isthmus

Mesosalpinx

Uterotubal junction
Ampulla
Infundibulum

Ostium

Fimbria

Clinical metritis is characterized by fever, a foul-fetid

vulvar discharge, a uterus with excess fluid and lacking
tone, and a cow that appears depressed and off-feed.
Clinical metritis is most commonly seen in the first 10
days post-calving.

Puerperal or acute metritis

(also postpartum metritis, toxic
puerperal metritis, septic
metritis):
Abnormally enlarged uterus,
fetid watery red-brown discharge,
signs of systemic illness
(decreased milk yield, dullness or
other signs of toxaemia)
and fever (39,5C), within 21 days
after calving.

Pyometra is characterized by accumulation of

purulent or mucopurulent exudate in the uterus and
is associated with infertility and postpartum
anoestrus

Etiology:
In cows, it is usually associated with a persistent
corpus luteum.

Predisposing factor of metritis

Finding the opening of the cervix.

Moving the cervix over the tip
of the insemination gun.

Locating the end of the

insemination gun.

Depositing the semen in the body of the

uterus.

In cattle, causes may be attributed to retained

afterbirth following calving, secondary infections
with
Campylobacter
spp,
Staphylococcus
spp and Streptococcus spp bacteria, as well
as protozoa including Tritrichomonas spp, Brucella
spp

Tritrichomonas

foetus

is
a
single
celled flagellated protozoan parasite that is known to
be a pathogen of the bovine reproductive tract.
Traditional antiprotozoal drugs such as Tinidazole
and metronidazole are used alone or combintion with
antibiotics.

T foetus can be safely eliminated from semen

with dimetridazole.
In cattle, bulls can receive topical treatment
with acriflavine.

Vaccines developed some time ago for use in cows and

evaluated in the field but were not highly effective,
especially in the absence of other control measures.

PYOMETRIC CONDITION IN COW

NOTE THE VAGINAL DISCHARGE

Examples of vaginal discharge from cows with metritis.

In many cases, a hard and inflamed uterus can be felt by rectal
palpation. The majority of metritis cases occur within the first
14 days after calving with a peak frequency around 5 to 7 days
after birth. Although it is not common, metritis can also occur
21 days after calving.

Scoring of 0, 1, 2, 3, 3
Using this score system, the mucus can described as:
Score 0 = clear or translucent mucus;
Score 1 = mucus containing flecks of white or off-white pus;
Score 2 = discharge containing 50% white or off-white mucopurulent
material;
Score 3 = discharge containing 50% purulent material, usually white or
sanguineous.

Udder and teats wounds as disease characteristics

with special reference to Staphylococcus aureus
in buffaloes

Foley Balloon Catheter

Catheter is designed
specifically for short-term,
immediate drainage

Bacteriology of uterine infections

Up to 90% of recently calved cows have uterine
infections 1 to 2 week after parturition.
Bacteriological findings
Bacteriological findings in uteri of cows with no periparturient disorders and cows with
retained foetal membranes (RFM) (Dohmen et al., 2000)
1-2 days post calving

Non-problem cows

RFM cows

E. coli

33%

97%

A. pyogenes

7%

10%

Bacteriodes spp.

20%

F. necrophorum

7%

3%

Clostridium spp.

7%

65%

Bacteria isolated from acute and sub-acute cases of periparturient disorders

Bacteria

Acute

Sub-acute

A. pyogenes

33-83%

33-85%

Gram neg. bacteria

49-67%

17-70%

E. coli

67-85%

0-17%

Peptostreptococci

60-80%

<5%

remaining

23-52%

7-39%

Purulent uterine discharge sample

collection for laboratory examination

Culture of bacteria

Bacterial culture

Growth of colonies of bacteria on a culture

medium

Improvement of uterine contractility

Evacuation of pathological contents of the uterus Prostaglandins or estrogens are
routinely used.

Requirements of antibiotics used for the

treatment of uterine infections
Criteria

Acute metritis

Clinical and subclinical

endometritis

Most often used actives

Oxytetracyclines, ceftiofur,
cefquinome

Cefapirin (Metricure),
oxytetracyclines

Recommended formulation Injectable: must reach high

and other properties
concentrations in uterine
lumen and endometrium
Intrauterine: good
penetration in the lumen and
endometrium, no irritation to
endometrium
No negative effect on uterine
immune cells

Intrauterine: good
penetration in the lumen and
endometrium, no irritation
to endometrium
No negative effect on
uterine immune cells