Prevalence and accompanying signs of pneumovagina and urovagina in dairy cows in the Southern Marmara region

Summary

Objective: Studies on the prevalence of pneumo- and urovagina in cows are rare. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the most common accompanying clinical signs of pneumo- and urovagina in dairy cows. Material and methods: Between 2007 and 2010 a total of 1167 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows were examined clinically and bacteriologically. Pneumovagina was diagnosed if air was sucked in or expelled from the vagina spontaneously at any time. Urovagina was defined as the accumulation of urine at the fornix of the vagina. Results: The prevalence of pneumovagina and urovagina were 19.2% (n = 224) and 3.1% (n = 36), respectively. Several clinical findings were accompanying pneumovagina in affected cows. 77.7% of cows having pneumovagina additionally displayed foamy vaginal discharge during estrous. Passive urinary flow out of the vulva could be observed due to pressure during rectal examination in some cows with urovagina. Bacteriological examination of uterine swaps from 111 cows with pneumovagina yielded a positive result in 95.5% of the cases. Uterine samples from 20 control animals were bacteriologically positive in 45% of the cases. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Pneumovagina in cows has a much higher prevalence than published before and causes uterine infection, endometritis and infertility due to fecal contamination. Urovagina is always an accompanying sign in severe cases of pneumovagina. Foamy vaginal discharge during estrous can be regarded as pathognomonic and early sign of pneumovagina also in very mild cases. Evacuation of the uterus after parturition and a decrease in body condition score due to negative energy balance causes an increased negative intraabdominal pressure. These conditions seem to trigger the development of pneumo- and urovagina. For this reason repeat-breeders and especially cows with foamy vaginal discharge during estrous, passive urinary leakage and an angulated vulva dorsal to the ischiadic arch should be carefully examined for pneumovagina.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel: Es gibt nur wenige Studien zur Prävalenz der Pneumo- und Urovagina bei Kühen. Zweck dieser Studie war daher, die Prävalenz der Pneumo- und Urovagina bei Milchkühen zu bestimmen. Material und Methoden: Zwischen 2007 and 2010 wurden 1167 Holstein-Friesian- und Braunvieh-Kühe klinisch und bakteriologisch untersucht. Eine Pneumovagina wurde diagnostiziert, wenn zu irgendeinem Zeitpunkt spontan Luft in die Vagina hineingesogen oder aus ihr herausgepresst wurde. Eine Urovagina war als Harnansammlung im Fornix vaginae definiert. Ergebnisse: Die ermittelte Prävalenz der Pneumovagina betrug 19,2% (n = 224), die der Urovagina 3,1% (n = 36). Bei Kühen mit einer Pneumovagina fanden sich mehrere begleitende klinische Befunde. 77% der Kühe mit Pneumovagina zeigten während der Brunst eine schaumige Sekretion aus der Vulva. Passiver Harnfluss aus der Vulva konnte bei der rektalen Untersuchung bei vielen Kühen mit Urovagina beobachtet werden. Uterusproben von 111 Kühen mit Pneumovagina waren zu 95,5%, die von 20 Kontrolltieren nur zu 45% bakteriologisch positiv. Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Relevanz: Die Pneumovagina bei Kühen hat eine deutlich höhere Prävalenz, als bisher angenommen und verusacht Uterusinfektionen, Endometritis und Infertilität durch fäkale Kontamination. Eine Urovagina stellt immer eine Begleiterscheinung einer hochgradigen Pneumovagina dar. Schaumiger Vaginalausfluss während der Brunst kann als pathognomonisches und frühes Symptom der Pneumovagina gedeutet werden, auch in leichten Fällen. Eine Pneumovagina verursacht eine hohe Rate an Uterusinfektionen mit enteralen Bakterien. Die Entleerung des Uterus nach der Geburt und ein Rückgang der Körperkondition aufgrund von negativer Energiebilanz verstärken den intraabdominalen Unterdruck. Dies scheint die Entstehung der Pneumo- und Urovagina auszulösen. Deshalb sollten erfolglos besamte Kühe und vor allem Kühe mit schaumigem Brunstschleim, passivem Harnfluss sowie dorsal des Beckenbodens gewinkelter Vulva genauestens auf eine Pneumovagina untersucht werden.

Key words

Cow - endometritis - air-sucking - pneumovagina - urovagina

Schlüsselwörter

Rind - Endometritis - Lufteinsaugen - Pneumovagina - Urovagina

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