A clinical study of metritis in dairy cows in the region of Batna (east of Algeria) and their treatments using different therapeutic protocols

Aim: The objective of this study was to make an inventory of cases of metritis in dairy cows during the post-partum period, to verify with a detailed clinical study on its real incidence in Batna region and to study the treatment of metritis, using different treatment protocols. Materials and Methods: A total of 432 dairy cows were examined during the post partum period and forty dairy cows having metritis were selected and assigned into four groups of 10 each to be treated with different drugs. Visits were programmed to track the status of uterine involution and different parameters of fecundity and fertility of cows. Result: The injection of Cloprostenol (a synthetic analogue of PGF2·) has a significant effect particularly on shorter intervals from calving to the first mating, calving to positive fertilization and for the reduction of the number of services of inseminations. Similarly, the association "antibiotic+Flunixin /Meglumine has a positive effect on the parameters mentioned above . Conclusion: These results show that the double injection of Cloprostenol in the treatment of metritis improves the performance of fertility of animals and the dose of 3ml of PGF2· had succeeded in giving a positive effect on the different fertility parameters studied, compared to the dose of 2 ml.


Metritis is a frequent pathology in Algerian dairy
Study area: This study has been conducted in the cows.Its multifactorial aetiology makes its prevention region of Batna (East of Algeria) that is characterized very difficult and unsuccessful in most cases [1,2].
by its sub tropical climate.The study lasted from If metritis is not rapidly diagnosed and treated it March 2010 to February 2011.

Animals:
would lead to infecondity, sterility and even premature Clinical study of metritis cases in Batna region: The reform of the cow (ex.third degree metritis).Therefore, study has been conducted on a total of 432dairy cows the economic rentability of the herd would be affected during the post partum period in order to study the real seriously [3].Delayed uterine involution and endometritis frequency of metritis.The cows belong to 29 different are generally the most common consequences of herds covering different areas of Batna region.retained placenta; they are detrimental to the future

Metritis treatment using different therapeutic protocols:
breeding of the cow with altered parameters of fertility, Forty dairy cows among which 78% were multiparous thus causing a prolongation of the calving fertilizing and 22% were primiparous having metritis (any cow insemination interval [4,5]. having a purulent vaginal discharge) were selected and There is a lot of controversy about appropriate randomly assigned into four groups of ten as follows: treatment regimes for post calving uterine infections Group I : 10 cows treated with oxytetracyclin intra-[6].Studies on the treatment of subclinical endometritis muscularly according to their bodyweights.with prostaglandin F2alpha or analogues, intrauterine Group II : 10 cows treated with oxytetracyclin intraantibiotics or proteolytic enzymes showed heteromuscularly and a single intramuscular injection of an geneous results [7][8][9][10][11].
anti inflammatory drug, the flunixin (Avlezan;Virbac) The aim of this study is to determine the frequency according to the manufacturer's recommendations. of metritis, its overall impact on fertility, and efficacy Group III : 10 cows treated with prostaglandin F2 alpha of different therapeutic protocols for the treatment of (Estrumate; Schering plough) at a dosage of 2ml metritic dairy cows in the region of Batna (East of Algeria).The use and study of efficacy of flunixine in intramuscularly.the treatment of bovine metritis, represents one of the This group was subdivided into two groups of 5 main objectives.
uterus in the group 1 compared to 70% and 60% in Group IV: 10 cows treated with prostaglandin F2 alpha groups III and IV respectively and 40% in group II (Estrumate ) at a dosage of 3ml by intramuscular route.

I). This group was subdivided into two groups of 5 cows
Effect of the double injection of PgF2α: The effect of each as follows : the double injection of PgF2α on the excretion of -Group IV (a): PgF2α (3ml single dose ) purulent vaginal discharge and on the fertility -Group IV(b): PgF2α (3ml double dose at 15 day parameters was very significant .Indeed,70% of the interval).
cows receiving a single injection of PgF2α (Groups IIIa The clinical follow-up comprises four visits in order to investigate the fertility parameters of the treated and IVa) against all the cows receiving the double cows amongst others, the calving-first insemination injection of PgF2α at 15 days interval(Groups IIIb and interval, the calving-fecundity insemination interval, IVb) had responded favorably to the treatment.the number of services and the rate of pregnant cows( Effect of the dose of PgF2α: The effects of the dose of real fertility rate) 90 days after the start of treatment.
PgF2α on the fertility parameters were inconstant.The The diagnosis of pregnancy was performed at 2 à 3 2cc dose had a good effect on the uterine position and either using an echograph or a manual method respectively.tonicity (90%), whereas, the 3cc dose had a good effect All the used methods in this work are conform to on the elimination of purulent vaginal discharge(80%).the regulations of International Animal Ethics Committee.Statistical analysis: All the data were treated and Follow-up of the fecundity analyzed using the Microsoft Excel.The statistical Comparison of mating indices: The cows had a mean analysis was performed using the Student test (test t) mating indices ranging from 2,22 ± 0,97 and 1,3 ± 0,48 with the Statistica and Minitab programs.matings in groups I and II respectively and 1,1 ± 0,33

Results
matings for the groups III and IV(Table -2).

Comparison of the calving -first mating intervals:
The frequency of metritis reached a rate of This study has revealed differences in the calving -first 32.17% in Batna region.
mating intervals particularly between the groups I and The uterine involution was at 30 days post treatment.

Comparison of the calving -fecundity mating intervals: excrete a vaginal discharge of the same appearance
The results of the calving -fecundity mating intervals (treated with the combination oxytetracycline and were 163±31,30 ; 97,4±19,3; 11,.37±33,1 et 75,1±3,45 flunixin).The same observation has been made in the days for cows of groups I, II,III and IV respectively.group IV cows (treated with a single or a double Reduction of the calving-fecundity mating interval by injection of PgF2alpha) (Table -1).
65,6 days between the groups I and II , by 87,9 days Uterine position: This study has revealed that 60% between the groups I and III and by 37,27 days between only of the cows had a normal uterine involution in the the groups III and IV(Table-2) was observed.group I and the group II compared to 90% and 80% to Discussion the cows treated with PgF2α (2cc) Group III (a) and In the present study the frequency of acute and those treated with PgF2α (3cc) Group IV (b) respec-  chronic metritis is 32,17 % .Hanzen et al., (1996) [12] parameters compared to the 2cc dose of the same had reported a frequency of the genital tract infection of hormone.However, additional studies carried out on 29% and 36% in dairy and beef cows respectively.In more important groups of cows are needed in order to agreement with our observation , Francoz (1970) [13] have satisfactory data on the effect of the PGF2α on the and Sheldon et al. (2009) [14] , stated that metritis is reproduction performances of cattle in the region.more frequent in primiparous cows than in multiparous Author's contribution ones, however, Miller et al., (1980) [15] reported RM carried out the field study, AN has supervised all contrary results.thesis work, TM is co-supervisor of RM.BM participated The uterine involution is more rapid in primiin writing and results analysis.MAS participated in the parous cows than in multiparous ones, but cows that design of the study and statistical analysis of the had vealed earlier had a better local immunity than that results.All authors read and approved the final in heifers.In this category of age, the reduced of manuscript.immunity may alter the benefic effect of the uterine involution.Dystocic vealings are more frequent in interval).
Treatment of metritis with antibiotics or prostaglandin F2 alpha and influence of ovarian cyclicity in dairy cows.Am J Conclusion Vet Res.Jun; 45(6):1090-4.
This study revealed that: 9.Dubuc, J., Duffield, TF.,Leslie, KE., Walton, JS., Leblanc, SJ. (2011) Randomized clinical trial of antibiotic and -The Flunixin has the same effect as PGF2α in cattle.prostaglandintreatments for uterine health and reproductive Therefore, its use in the treatment of metritis will be of performance in dairy cows.J Dairy Sci.Mar; 94 (3): 1325a great help.38.-Theinjection of the 3cc dose of PGF2α and double 10.Dolezel, R., Vecera M., Palenik T., Cech S., Vyskocil M.injection regimen had a better effect on fertility (2008) Systematic clinical examination of early postpartum

Table - 2
. Effect of the different therapeutic protocols and the double PGF2α injection on the fertility parameters in the studied cows.Effect of the double injection of PGF2 on the clinical signs of metritis.