Explore the vast range of titles available.

Endometritis is an important factor in cattle fertility. Pathogenicity and the development of numerous reproductive diseases are directly related to bacterial imbalance in the genital tract. A commercial antibiotic can be relatively costly and can disrupt the animal’s usual gut microflora; instead of plant medicals. The aim of this study was to develop an effective artificial insemination (AI) gel from traditional Thai herbs that exhibit bacterial inhibition. Twenty-four female Thai native cattle were divided into two groups: endometritis and healthy. Uterine swabs were isolated, identified, and tested for bacterial biofilm formation in vitro. Brucella ovis, Campylobacter fetus, Helicobacter trogontum, andArcobacter cryaerophilus were found in female genitalia with endometritis based on weak biofilm information. Garcinia mangostana Linn. and Achyranthes aspera Linn. extracts were tested for antibacterial activity using agar dilution assay. A 10 µg/mL concentration of both extracts in combination was effective against the mixed bacterial isolation. The specific AI gel with those extracts was then developed (so-called GA-Gel)in vivo. The combined extracts inhibited the endometritis bacteria that expressed antimicrobial activity in vivo. Their hematological profiles indicated that the total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes counts decreased (p≤0.05). Compared to healthy cattle, the treated cattle had no significant difference in the levels of aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine. Both in vivo and in vitro indicated that the GA-Gel was effective for the prevention of an increase of bacteria and can be potentially developed to be an efficient AI gel.

Our objectives were to describe and compare the uterine bacterial composition of postpartum Holstein cows diagnosed as healthy (n = 8), subclinical endometritis (SCE; n = 8), or clinical endometritis (CE; n = 5) in the fifth week postpartum. We did metagenomic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences from endometrial cytobrush samples at 10, 21, and 35 days in milk (DIM), and endometrial bacterial culture at 35 DIM. Uterine bacterial composition in healthy, SCE, and CE was stable at 10, 21, and 35 DIM. Alpha and beta diversities showed a different uterine microbiome from CE compared to healthy or SCE, but no differences were found between healthy and SCE cows. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria , and at genera level, of Trueperella was greater in CE than healthy or SCE cows. Trueperella pyogenes was the predominant bacteria cultured in cows with CE, and a wide variety of bacterial growth was found in healthy and SCE cows. Bacteria that grew in culture were represented within the most abundant bacterial genera based on metagenomic sequencing. The uterine microbiota was similar between SCE and healthy, but the microbiome in cows with CE had a loss of bacterial diversity.

This study investigated differences in uterine and serum metabolome associated with clinical cure failure of metritis in dairy cows. Metritis was diagnosed in lactating Holstein cows from two Florida dairies and defined by the presence of fetid, watery, reddish-brown vaginal discharge from 4 to 12 days postpartum (dpp). Cows with metritis (n = 24) were paired with cows without metritis of similar parity and dpp (n = 24). On the day of metritis diagnosis (day 0), all cows with metritis received antimicrobial therapy. The continued presence of the fetid, watery, reddish-brown discharge on day 5 (n = 16) was defined as clinical cure failure, whereas clinical cure was defined by its absence (n = 8). Metabolome analyses of uterine lavage (days 0 and 5) and serum samples (day 0) were conducted using untargeted gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Normalized data were analyzed using partial least squares–discriminant analysis and ANOVA, adjusting P-values for multiple comparisons. Differences in the uterine metabolome on day 0 associated with clinical cure failure were linked to carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism. Greater concentrations of arachidonic acid, ribose, and glutaric acid were associated with clinical cure failure, suggesting a greater degree of tissue lesion and inflammation. No differences in the serum metabolome were associated with cure failure. No differences in uterine metabolome were associated with clinical cure failure on day 5. The findings suggest that clinical cure failure is associated with a greater uterine inflammatory process that did not persist until cure assessment day. Summary Sentence Clinical cure failure in dairy cows with metritis is linked to distinct uterine metabolome profiles, inflammatory processes, and energy metabolism present on the day of metritis diagnosis but not on cure assessment day. Graphical Abstract

Endometritis in dairy cows is a common reproductive disease that severely affects reproductive performance and milk production, resulting in significant economic losses. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a PAMP capable of inducing inflammatory responses in the endometrium through the NF-κB pathway. Interferon-tau (IFN-τ) is a type I interferon with significant anti-inflammatory properties. Currently, transcriptomics sequencing technology has gradually become an attractive tool for studying such diseases. This study established an inflammatory model of bovine endometrial cells (BENDs) using LPS induction and employed RNA-seq technology to investigate the expression profiles of mRNAs in BENDs from the Control group (C), the LPS-treated group (L), and the IFN-τ + LPS-treated group (F). The results showed that there were 109, 1109, and 962 Differentially Expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in the C vs L, C vs F, and L vs F. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that these DEmRNAs were mainly involved in the regulation of host immune responses (e.g., NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway), signal transduction molecules and interactions (e.g., Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction; Cell adhesion molecules), metabolic process (e.g., Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis-lacto and neolacto series) and Antigen processing and presentation, Complement and coagulation cascades, Th17 cell differentiation, etc. biological process. This study not only elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which BENDs respond to microbial invasion but also reveals the specific regulatory network through which IFN-τ exerts its anti-inflammatory effects via multiple synergistic pathways. It provides crucial theoretical support for the clinical application of interferon therapy in treating endometritis, demonstrating significant research value and promising applications.

Background We investigated the impact of different classification schemes for postpartum uterine disease on genital tract involution, milk yield, and reproductive performance in dairy cows. The reproductive tracts of 223 Polish Holstein cows were examined between 21 and 29 days postpartum (median 24 days). Transrectal ultrasonography was employed to assess reproductive tract dimensions, vaginoscopy was used for visual scoring of vaginal discharge, and endometrial cytology with the cytobrush was used to calculate the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). The health status of the cows was classified using two diagnostics models. Model 1 categorized cows as healthy (H; <5% PMN and absence of purulent vaginal discharge [PVD0]), subclinical endometritis (SE; ≥5% PMN and PVD0), and further subdivided PVD into three categories: flecks of pus in vaginal discharge (PVD1), mucopurulent discharge (PVD2), or purulent discharge including red-brownish watery fetid discharge (PVD3), irrespective of endometrial PMN%. Model 2 classified cows as healthy (H; <5% PMN and PVD0), subclinical endometritis (SE; ≥5% PMN and ≤ PVD1), and clinical endometritis (CE; ≥5% PMN and > PVD1). Results Cows with ≥ PVD2 (Model 1) and CE (Model 2) had larger cervical and uterine horn diameters and were less likely to resume ovarian activity by the fourth week postpartum in comparison to H and SE. For Model 1, the milk yield to 120 days postpartum was lower in PVD3 in comparison to H while for Model 2, CE produced less milk to 120 days postpartum when compared to H or SE. For both models, SE had a lower first service conception rate than H cows, but the pregnancy risk to 210 days postpartum did not differ. When compared to H, PVD2 (Model 1), and CE (Model 2) had the lowest first service conception rate and pregnancy risk to 210 days postpartum. Conclusion Model 1 provides detailed PVD severity assessment, which is valuable for potential targeted treatment and management but adding complexity due to multiple categories. Model 2 offers simpler categorization for clear management decisions but may overlook disease nuances. Though labor-intensive and less practical for routine use, these protocols are useful for population-level decision-making in dairy farm reproductive performance.

Uterine infection is associated with infertility in women and dairy cows, even after the resolution of infection. However, the mechanisms causing this persistent infertility are unclear. Here, we hypothesized that induced endometritis in non-lactating dairy cows would reduce the developmental competence of oocytes. Non-lactating Holstein cows received an intrauterine infusion of endometrial pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli and Trueperella pyogenes; n = 12) or vehicle control (n = 11) on day 2 of the estrous cycle. Bacterial infusion increased expression of endometrial inflammatory mediators, and a mucopurulent discharge in the vagina confirmed the establishment of endometritis. Oocytes were collected by transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum pickup on days 2, 24, 45, and 66 following infusion and subjected to in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. Bacterial infusion resulted in fewer cleaved oocytes developing to morulae compared to vehicle-infused controls (30.7 versus 45.0%), with the greatest effect observed in oocytes collected on day 24. Development to morula was inversely correlated with endometrial expression of IL6 on day 6. The expression of genes associated with embryo quality did not differ significantly between morulae from bacteria-infused and control cows. Artificial insemination 130 days after intrauterine infusion resulted in normal, filamentous embryos that produced interferon tau 16 days after conception in both infusion groups. This model of experimentally induced uterine infection successfully resulted in endometritis and a reduction in the proportion of oocytes that developed to morulae following in vitro fertilization. In conclusion, endometritis reduced the capacity of oocytes to develop to morulae. Summary Sentence Induction of uterine infection has a long-term impact on the oocyte, reducing the capacity of the oocyte to develop to an embryo in dairy cows. Graphical Abstract

Endometritis impairs uterine function and reduces reproductive performance in dairy cows. Conventional treatment involves intrauterine antibiotics; however, antimicrobial resistance has become an increasing concern worldwide. Biofactors secreted by mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), collectively known as the secretome possess immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic, angiogenic, and antimicrobial properties and may represent a novel alternative for treating bovine endometritis. This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial potential of bovine fetal MSC-derived secretome (sMSC) against Escherichia Coli and assessed the safety and efficacy of sMSC-based therapy in dairy cows. Conditioned media (CM) derived from fetal bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AT) MSCs reduced E. Coli survival by up to 98%. Intrauterine administration of sMSC produced no significant clinical or hematological alterations, demonstrating that the treatment is safe. Cows with clinical endometritis receiving two intrauterine doses of lyophilized sMSC, separated by 14 days, showed lower ( P  < 0.05) endometrial polymorphonuclear (PMN) counts (~ 47%) and postpartum endometritis grade (EG) (~ 78%) than placebo-treated animals (PCB). Proteomic analysis of lyophilized sMSC revealed that 11% of the total protein content corresponded to secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich (SPARC), a molecule with known roles in tissue repair and immune regulation, which may underlie the observed therapeutic effects. Together, these results indicate that bovine sMSC-derived secretome is a safe and effective therapy for treating bovine endometritis, potentially contributing to a reduction in antibiotics use in dairy cows.

Cow purulent catarrhal endometritis (PCE) is a common reproductive disorder in dairy cattle caused by bacterial infections. PCE impacts fertility, milk production, and animal health. Therapeutic approaches include systemic or intrauterine antibiotics. Unfortunately, the overuse of antibiotics in treating PCE drives the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making infections difficult to treat and increasing food safety concerns due to antibiotic residues remaining in milk and meat products, posing health risks to consumers. Antimicrobial nanomaterials, particularly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), provide an efficient alternative to combat multi-resistant bacteria, and the synergistic activity of AgNPs and antibiotics has been well documented, making the treatments of bacterial infections more efficient. Here, a comparative study is shown applying Argovit-C (AgNPs) and Enrocide as therapeutics for treating PCE in cattle. Intrauterine application of Argovit-C reduces the recovery time of cattle in comparison with Enrocide treatment as well as increases the sensitivity to antibiotics of Escherichia coli isolates from cervical canal secretion samples of diseased cattle. The increased sensitivity was found to 24 antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, polymyxin, rifampicin, and chloramphenicol. The increased sensitivity was much higher for those bacteria that did not show an active efflux effect. Furthermore, Argovit-C reduced the acquisition of blaDHA and blaGES resistance genes in E. coli , as well as the number of bacterial isolates without efflux effect. Overall, this translational study performed in 300 cows demonstrates the ability of Argovit-C AgNPs to combat bacterial infections, favoring an increase in bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics and reducing their ability to acquire antibiotic multi-resistant genes.

Bacterial overgrowth in the uterus is a normal event after parturition. In contrast to the healthy cow, animals unable to control the infection within 21 days after calving develop postpartum endometritis. Studies on the Microbial Ecology of the bovine reproductive tract have focused on either vaginal or uterine microbiomes. This is the first study that compares both microbiomes in the same animals. Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of the 16S rRNA gene showed that despite large differences associated to individuals, a shared community exist in vagina and uterus during the postpartum period. The largest changes associated with development of endometritis were observed at 7 days postpartum, a time when vaginal and uterine microbiomes were most similar. 16S rRNA pyrosequencing of the vaginal microbiome at 7 days postpartum showed at least three different microbiome types that were associated with later development of postpartum endometritis. All three microbiome types featured reduced bacterial diversity. Taken together, the above findings support a scenario where disruption of the compartmentalization of the reproductive tract during parturition results in the dispersal and mixing of the vaginal and uterine microbiomes, which subsequently are subject to differentiation. This differentiation was observed early postpartum in the healthy cow. In contrast, loss of bacterial diversity and dominance of the microbiome by few bacterial taxa were related to a delayed succession at 7DPP in cows that at 21 DPP or later were diagnosed with endometritis.

This study was conducted aiming to investigate impacts of experimentally induced endometritis on the vascular perfusion and echogenicity of the endometrium in dairy cows. Following estrus synchronization and applying cytological and bacteriological examinations, Holstein cows ( n  = 9) were enrolled in the experiment. The endometrial blood flow and echogenicity in the middle of each uterine horn were evaluated two times a week until the subsequent estrus by power Doppler and two dimensional ultrasonography. On days 3 and 4 of the subsequent estrous cycle, 15 milliliters of a suspension containing pure culture of Truperella pyogenes (8–15 × 10 8 cfu/mL) were inoculated into the body of uterus, and then endometrial blood flow and echogenicity were evaluated according to the applied procedure of the previous cycle. The provided results indicated different vascular perfusion and echogenicity among various days of normal estrous cycle, while after induction of endometritis, no significant difference observed. Comparing vascular perfusion between the normal and infectious estrous cycles also revealed significant difference in days 3, 10 and day 14 of two cycles. The differences of endometrial echogenicity between days 3 and 10 of normal and infectious estrous cycle were also significant. In conclusion, inducing endometritis significantly altered pattern of vascular perfusion and echogenicity of uterine horn during certain days of the estrous cycle.