Relación entre las características del fondo de extendido de moco cérvico-vaginal bovino y el estatus sanitario uterino

C. L. Savia; A. C. Algañaraz; M. A. Roca; M. Tobin; A. Rinaudo; E. E. Guibert

doi:10.30972/vet.3618083

Authors

C. L. Savia Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Centro Binacional (Argentina-Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada (CAIC). Cátedra de Histología II y Embriología Especial. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8524-8060
A. C. Algañaraz Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología II y Embriología Especial https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1519-9442
M. A. Roca Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología II y Embriología Especial https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4420-6893
M. Tobin Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología II y Embriología Especial https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1603-9224
A. Rinaudo Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología II y Embriología Especial https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1181-4847
E. E. Guibert Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Centro Binacional (Argentina-Italia) de Investigaciones en Criobiología Clínica y Aplicada (CAIC). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6854-4797

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30972/vet.3618083

Keywords:

cervical-vaginal mucus, uterine health, cows, endometritis, spread

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the type of cervical-vaginal mucus (MCV), the characteristics of the smear background, and uterine health status. A total of 146 Holando Argentino cows were classified into three groups based on gynaecological examination and cytobrush results: clinical endometritis (EC), subclinical endometritis (ES), and healthy uterine status (S). For smear background analysis, a drop of MCV was placed on a slide, allowed to dry until crystallization, and observed under an optical microscope. The background was classified as clean (L) or dirty (SU) based on the presence or absence of debris, epithelial cells, and inflammatory cells. Normal flow was categorized as transparent or cloudy. Data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad® Prism 5 software. Parametric and non-parametric tests were applied, along with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio. In the healthy group, 85% of the samples showed a clean background and 15% a dirty background. In the ES group, 42% had a clean background and 58% a dirty background, while in the EC group, 7% exhibited a clean background and 93% a dirty background. The smear background reading test, applied as a diagnostic technique, demonstrated high specificity (93%) and sensitivity (85%) for EC, and high specificity (85%) but low sensitivity (58%) for ES. An association was found between smear background types and uterine status, with dirty backgrounds correlating with MCV samples from cows with endometritis and a higher percentage of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in endometrial cytology samples. Transparent discharge was associated with a clean smear background, while cloudy discharge was linked to a dirty background. In conclusion, MCV smear background reading is a rapid, simple, and cost-effective technique that could be used in the field to assess uterine health in female cattle.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abd-ElHafeez AM, Amin AMS, Ramadan MH, Helal A. y Mohamed M. The most applicable physical properties of cervical mucus correlated. Adv Anim Vet Sci. 2020; 8(s2): 122-31.

Abusineina M. A study of the fern-like crystalline patterns of the cervical and vaginal mucus of cattle. Vet Rec. 1962; 74(22): 619-21.

Adnane M, Meade KG, O’Farrelly C. Cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) – an accessible source of immunologically informative biomolecules. Vet Res Commun. 2018a; 42(4): 255-63.

Adnane M, Kelly P, Chapwanya A, Meade KG, O’Farrelly C. Improved detection of biomarkers in cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) from postpartum cattle. BMC Vet Res. 2018b; 14(1): 1-6.

Barnes M, Kasimanickam R, Kasimanickam V. Effect of subclinical endometritis and flunixin meglumine administration on pregnancy in embryo recipient beef cows. Theriogenology. 2023; 201: 76-82.

Bernardi SF, Savia CL, DE Paz LJ, Rodriguez J, Marini PR. Physical properties and ionic concentration of the bovine cervical mucus at the moment of inseminating: Spontaneous estrous and induced estrous. J Vet Sci Technol. 2018; 09(03): 2-5.

Bishnoi BL, Vyas KK, Dwaraknath, PK. Note on spinnbarkeit and crystallization pattern of bovine cervical mucus during oestrus. Indian J Anim Sci. 1982; 52(6): 438-40.

Brodzki P, Kostro K, Krakowski L, Marczuk J. Inflammatory cytokine and acute phase protein concentrations in the peripheral blood and uterine washings of cows with subclinical endometritis in the late postpartum period. Vet Res Commun. 2015; 39(2): 143-9.

Cheong SH, Nydam DV, Galvão KN, Crosier BM, Ricci A, Caixeta LS. Use of reagent test strips for diagnosis of endometritis in dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2012; 77(5): 858-64.

Cortés ME, Cabrera D, López R, Vigil P. Importancia del moco cervical en la fisiología reproductiva bovina. VI Congreso Internacional de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia: artículos in extenso, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi Latacunga, Ecuador. 2016. p. 78-95.

Cortés ME, González F, Vigil P. Crystallization of Bovine Cervical Mucus at Oestrus: An Update. Rev Med Vet (Bogota). 2014; 28:103-16.

Denis-Robichaud J, Dubuc J. Determination of optimal diagnostic criteria for purulent vaginal discharge and cytological endometritis in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2015; 98(10): 6848-55.

Drillich M, Tesfaye D, Rings F, Schellander K, Heuwieser W, Hoelker M. Effects of polymorphonuclear neutrophile infiltration into the endometrial environment on embryonic development in superovulated cows. Theriogenology. 2012; 77(3): 570-8.

Fernandez-Sanchez FI, Barrio-Lopez M, Quintela-Arias LA, Becerra-Gonzalez JJ, Peña-Martinez AI, Martinez-Bello D, Garcia-Herradon PJ, Perez-Marín, CC. Use of endometrial cytology and metabolic profiles for selection of embryo donor cows. Spanish J Agric Res. 2014; 12(3): 664-71.

Gilbert RO, Shin ST, Guard CL, Erb HN, Frajblat M. Prevalence of endometritis and its effects on reproductive performance of dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2005; 64(9): 1879-88.

Gilbert RO. Management of Reproductive Disease in Dairy Cows. Vet Clin North Am - Food Anim Pract. 2016; 32(2): 387-410.

Kasimanickam R, Duffield TF, Foster RA, Gartley CJ, Leslie KE, Walton JS, Johnson WH. Endometrial cytology and ultrasonography for the detection of subclinical endometritis in postpartum dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2004: 62(1-2): 9-23.

LeBlanc SJ. Postpartum uterine disease and dairy herd reproductive performance: A review. Vet J. 2008; 176(1): 102-14.

Lim HJ, Son JK, Yoon HB, Baek KS, Kim T il, Jung YS, Kwon EG. Physical Properties of Estrus Mucus in Relation to Conception Rates in Dairy Cattle. J Anim Reprod Biotechnol. 2014; 29(2): 157-61.

Machado VS, Knauer WA, Bicalho MLS, Oikonomou G, Gilbert RO, Bicalho RC. A novel diagnostic technique to determine uterine health of Holstein cows at 35 days postpartum. J Dairy Sci. 2012; 95(3): 1349-57.

Modi L, Suthar B, Nakhashi H, Sharma V, Panchasara H. Physical Characteristics of Estrual Cervical Mucus and conception rate in Repeat Breeder Kankrej Cattle. Int J Agro Vet Med Sci. 2011; 5(4): 416.

Quintela LA, Vigo M, Becerra JJ, Barrio M, Peña AI, Herradón, PG. Endometritis subclínica en ganado vacuno lechero: etiopatogenia y diagnóstico. Revisión Bibliográfica. ITEA, Información Técnica Económica Agraria: Revista de La Asociación Interprofesional Para El Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA). 2017; 113(3): 250-266.

Rinaudo A, Bernardi SF, Marini PR. Prevalencia de endometritis clínica y subclinica en vacas lechera en postparto en un sistema intensivo estabulado. Rev FAVE. 2011; 10(2): 59-66.

Runciman DJ, Anderson GA, Malmo J. Comparison of two methods of detecting purulent vaginal discharge in postpartum dairy cows and effect of intrauterine cephapirin on reproductive performance. Aust Vet J. 2009; 87(9): 369-78.

Savia CL, Reátegui J, Marini PR. Relación entre características físicas y contenido iónico del moco cervical con el estado de preñez al inseminar vaquillonas a celo detectado. Spermova. 2016; 6(2): 153-8.

Savia CL, Osorio JS, Rodríguez JV, Guibert EE, Rinaudo A. A simple and reliable refractometric method to determine the total solids concentration of the cervico-vaginal bovine mucus samples. Heliyon. 2021; 7(5): 1-6.

Savia CL. Características físico-químicas del moco cérvico-vaginal de vacas Lecheras Holando Argentino con endometritis subclínica. Tesis doctoral, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Casilda, Argentina. 2023.

Sheldon IM, Cronin JG, Bromfield JJ. Tolerance and innate immunity shape the development of postpartum uterine disease and the impact of endometritis in dairy cattle. Annu Rev Anim Biosci. 2019; 7(1): 361-384.

Tsiligianni TH, Karagiannidis A, Brikas P, Saratsis PH. Relationship between certain physical properties of cervical mucus and fertility in cows. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2000; 107(1): 28-31.

Tsiligianni T, Karagiannidis A, Brikas P, Saratsis P. Physical properties of bovine cervical mucus during normal and induced (progesterone and/or PGF2α) estrus. Theriogenology. 2001; 55(2): 629-40.

Van Raemdonck GAA, Tjalma WAA, Coen EP, Depuydt CE, Van Ostade XWM. Identification of protein biomarkers for cervical cancer using human cervicovaginal fluid. PLoS One. 2014; 9(9): e106488.

Van Schyndel SJ, Pascottini OB, Leblanc SJ. Comparison of cow-side diagnostic techniques for subclinical endometritis in dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2018; 120: 117-122.

Villacrés Barrionuevo VM. Diagnóstico de endometritis subclínica mediante citobrush en vacas post-parto en el hato del CIPCA. BS thesis. Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, Ecuador. 2016.

Zegels G, Van Raemdonck GAA, Tjalma WAA, Van Ostade XWM. Use of cervicovaginal fluid for the identification of biomarkers for pathologies of the female genital tract. Proteome Sci. 2010; 8: 1-23.