TY - JOUR
T1 - Short communication
T2 - Assessment of biomarkers of inflammation in the vaginal discharge of postpartum dairy cows diagnosed with clinical metritis
AU - Barragan, A. A.
AU - Lakritz, J.
AU - Carman, M. K.
AU - Bas, S.
AU - Hovingh, E.
AU - Schuenemann, G. M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank the farms that permitted us to collect samples from their animals for this study, as well as the undergraduate students who assisted in field data collection and data uploading. Special thanks to Louise Byler, Rebecka Russel, and Dare Sheperd (Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park) for their contribution to this study. The authors also acknowledge the support provided by the Vernon L. Tharp Professorship to J. Lakritz and by the USDA National Institute of Food and Federal Appropriations under Project PEN04665 and Accession Number 1017918.
Funding Information:
The authors thank the farms that permitted us to collect samples from their animals for this study, as well as the undergraduate students who assisted in field data collection and data uploading. Special thanks to Louise Byler, Rebecka Russel, and Dare Sheperd (Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park) for their contribution to this study. The authors also acknowledge the support provided by the Vernon L. Tharp Professorship to J. Lakritz and by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Federal Appropriations under Project PEN04665 and Accession Number 1017918.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Dairy Science Association
Copyright:
Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/8
Y1 - 2019/8
N2 - Clinical metritis, characterized by the presence of an enlarged uterus and abnormal red-brownish foul-smelling vaginal discharge (VD), is a prevalent condition that causes important economic losses to dairy operations. The accurate diagnosis and treatment of this disease can help decrease its negative effects on the well-being and performance of dairy cows. The objectives of this study were to assess (1) the concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) and neutrophil-derived haptoglobin–matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Hp-MMP 9) in the VD of postpartum cows; and (2) the correlation between Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations in serum and VD. Fifty-three dairy cows from 4 farms in central Pennsylvania were enrolled in this observational study. Postpartum cows (7 ± 3 DIM) were screened using a Metricheck device to assess VD score (VDS): 1, clear fluid (n = 4); 2, < 50% white purulent fluid (n = 14); 3, > 50% white purulent fluid (n = 8); 4, red-brownish watery fluid without fetid smell (n = 22); and 5, fetid red-brownish watery fluid (n = 5). Blood and VD samples were collected for assessment of Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations. Cows with a VDS of 4 or 5 (VDS4/5) had higher serum Hp concentrations than cows with a VDS of 1, 2, or 3 (VDS1/3; 93 ± 187 µg/mL vs. 59 ± 106 µg/mL, respectively). Similarly, cows with VDS4/5 had higher VD Hp concentrations than cows with VDS1/3 (73 ± 56 µg/mL vs. 17 ± 16 µg/mL, respectively). We found a significant correlation (0.37) between Hp levels in serum and in VD. We found no difference in serum Hp-MMP 9 between VDS4/5 and VDS1/3 cows. The VD concentrations of Hp-MMP 9 were higher in VDS4/5 cows than in VDS1/3 cows (7,629 ± 9,847 ng/mL vs. 1,567 ± 2,165 ng/mL, respectively). The correlation between Hp-MMP 9 in serum and VD was 0.22; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant. Interestingly, Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations were higher in VD samples than in serum, regardless of VDS. Results from this study suggest that inflammatory biomarkers may be increased in cows with a VDS of 4 or 5. Further research should be aimed at elucidating the processes involved in inflammatory biomarker production and transportation in the uterus, as well as the effect of these biomarkers on endometrial cells.
AB - Clinical metritis, characterized by the presence of an enlarged uterus and abnormal red-brownish foul-smelling vaginal discharge (VD), is a prevalent condition that causes important economic losses to dairy operations. The accurate diagnosis and treatment of this disease can help decrease its negative effects on the well-being and performance of dairy cows. The objectives of this study were to assess (1) the concentration of haptoglobin (Hp) and neutrophil-derived haptoglobin–matrix metalloproteinase 9 (Hp-MMP 9) in the VD of postpartum cows; and (2) the correlation between Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations in serum and VD. Fifty-three dairy cows from 4 farms in central Pennsylvania were enrolled in this observational study. Postpartum cows (7 ± 3 DIM) were screened using a Metricheck device to assess VD score (VDS): 1, clear fluid (n = 4); 2, < 50% white purulent fluid (n = 14); 3, > 50% white purulent fluid (n = 8); 4, red-brownish watery fluid without fetid smell (n = 22); and 5, fetid red-brownish watery fluid (n = 5). Blood and VD samples were collected for assessment of Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations. Cows with a VDS of 4 or 5 (VDS4/5) had higher serum Hp concentrations than cows with a VDS of 1, 2, or 3 (VDS1/3; 93 ± 187 µg/mL vs. 59 ± 106 µg/mL, respectively). Similarly, cows with VDS4/5 had higher VD Hp concentrations than cows with VDS1/3 (73 ± 56 µg/mL vs. 17 ± 16 µg/mL, respectively). We found a significant correlation (0.37) between Hp levels in serum and in VD. We found no difference in serum Hp-MMP 9 between VDS4/5 and VDS1/3 cows. The VD concentrations of Hp-MMP 9 were higher in VDS4/5 cows than in VDS1/3 cows (7,629 ± 9,847 ng/mL vs. 1,567 ± 2,165 ng/mL, respectively). The correlation between Hp-MMP 9 in serum and VD was 0.22; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant. Interestingly, Hp and Hp-MMP 9 concentrations were higher in VD samples than in serum, regardless of VDS. Results from this study suggest that inflammatory biomarkers may be increased in cows with a VDS of 4 or 5. Further research should be aimed at elucidating the processes involved in inflammatory biomarker production and transportation in the uterus, as well as the effect of these biomarkers on endometrial cells.
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U2 - 10.3168/jds.2018-15854
DO - 10.3168/jds.2018-15854
M3 - Article
C2 - 31202654
AN - SCOPUS:85067120565
VL - 102
SP - 7469
EP - 7475
JO - Journal of Dairy Science
JF - Journal of Dairy Science
SN - 0022-0302
IS - 8
ER -