Use of plasma concentrations of 13,14-dihydro, 15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM) in the diagnosis of sub-clinical endometritis and its relationship to fertility in the postpartum dairy cow

摘要

24-29 days after calving, 274 cows were divided into 4 groups on the basis of clinical features of the uterus and ovaries: (1) normal involuting uterus and a corpus luteum (CL) on the ovaries; (2) normal involuting uterus but no CL on the ovaries; (3) involuting uterus not normal and CL present on the ovaries; (4) involuting uterus not normal and no CL present on the ovaries. A blood sample was obtained on the day each animal was entered into the study, and plasma concentrations of 13,14-dihydro, 15-keto-PGF2alpha (PGFM) and progesterone were determined. The animals were artificially inseminated at the first observed oestrus 60 days after calving, and pregnancy was determined by rectal palpation 45-50 days after insemination. Polynomial regressionanalysis was used to determine the shape of the PGFM, progesterone and fertility curves. There was no difference among groups in mean PGFM concentration. Groups 2 and 4 had a higher rate of change in PGFM concentration than groups 1 and 3 (P<0.05). Cowswith normal uteri had a higher pregnancy rate 90 days post partum than cows with an abnormal uterus. It was concluded that plasma PGFM concentration between days 24 and 29 post partum was not effective in identifying cows with subclinical endometritis.