Multi-omics integration and immune profiling identify possible causal networks leading to uterine microbiome dysbiosis in dairy cows that develop metritis.

Background: Cows that develop metritis experience dysbiosis of their uterine microbiome, where opportunistic pathogens overtake uterine commensals. An effective immune response is critical for maintaining uterine health. Nonetheless, periparturient cows experience immune dysregulation, which seems to be intensified by prepartum over-condition.

The economic impact of purulent vaginal discharge in dairy herds within a single lactation.

The goal of this study was to calculate the cost of purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) in dairy cows. The data set included 11,051 cows from 16 dairy herds located in 4 regions of the US. Purulent vaginal discharge was characterized as a mucopurulent, purulent, or reddish-brownish vaginal discharge collected at 28 ± 7 d in milk.

Integrating uterine microbiome and metabolome to advance the understanding of the uterine environment in dairy cows with metritis.

Background: Metritis is a prevalent uterine disease that affects the welfare, fertility, and survival of dairy cows. The uterine microbiome from cows that develop metritis and those that remain healthy do not differ from calving until 2 days postpartum, after which there is a dysbiosis of the uterine microbiome characterized by a shift towards opportunistic pathogens such as Fusobacteriota and Bacteroidota. Whether these opportunistic pathogens proliferate and overtake the uterine commensals could be determined by the type of substrates present in the uterus.

Evaluating differences in milk production, reproductive performance, and survival associated with vaginal discharge characteristics and fever in postpartum dairy cows.

The objective was to assess differences in productive and reproductive performance, and survival associated with vaginal discharge characteristics and fever in postpartum dairy cows located in western and southern states of the United States. This retrospective cohort study included data from 3 experiments conducted in 9 dairies. Vaginal discharge was evaluated twice within 12 DIM and scored on a 5-point scale.

Testing the Induction of Metritis in Healthy Postpartum Primiparous Cows Challenged with a Cocktail of Bacteria.

Metritis is a postpartum uterine disease with greater incidence in primiparous than in multiparous cows. In primiparous cows, the impact on production and health is lessened, presumably due to a superior immune response. Here, we tested whether an in vivo model of clinical metritis induction developed for postpartum multiparous Holstein cows would produce similar results in primiparous cows.