Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Dairy veterinarians, animal scientists and dairy producers are the primary target audience for these studies. This project represents a new approach to understanding the interaction between reproductive infections that become systemic (bacteremia), and subsequent systemic and local inflammation, milk production and reproductive efficiency. It may lead to the development of new breeding management programs based on simple monitoring of uterine infection and inflammation and/or specific evidence of occult infection. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? This project has been a vehicle to support the PhD work of Dr. Brent Credille and was done in conjunction with his large animal internal medicine residency. He conducted the studies in the field under the direction of Drs. Amelia Woolums and Michael Overton. He is expected to complete his PhD dissertation by March of 2014. In addition, the project has provided research training opportunities for two veterinary students who participated in both clinical and laboratory phases of the project. In addition, one undergraduate research student participated in the measurement of gene expression related to this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Acute puerperal metritis (APM) in cattle is defined as the presence of a fetid, watery uterine discharge, an enlarged and flaccid uterus, and overt signs of systemic illness occurring within 21 days of calving. APM is one of the most commonly encountered and economically significant diseases affecting modern dairy cattle. Numerous risk factors for the development of metritis have been identified. Interestingly, immunosuppression in the immediate peri-partum period seems to play a significant role in the subsequent development of APM. Despite a wealth of information on the prevalence and systemic effects of bacteremia in humans with critical illness very little information exists regarding the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis. Thus, the aims of the proposed project are multi-faceted. First, we determined that the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis was about 40% of the cases. Second, the antimicrobial sensitivity profiles and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the organisms isolated from the uterus and bloodstream of affected cattle were determined, allowing veterinarians to choose the most appropriate antimicrobial without costly delays of blood and uterine culture. Sampling, culture, immune and inflammatory assessments have been optimized for this project. Following optimization, 17 clinical cases and 14 age, parity and site matched controls have been assessed. The complete set of results from 14 cases and 6 controls have been accumulated and Bacillus species (4), Clostridium spp. (1), A. pyogenes (1), Gram negative bacilli (1) and Colstridium spp. (1) have been isolate from blood cultures from acute puerperal metritis. Bacillus spp. was also isolated from the blood culture of three controls. Arcanobacterium pyogenes has been isolated from uterine cultures of four of 10 cases. Fusobacterium was isolated from uterine cultures of two cases, E. coli from 4 cases, Clostridium difficile from two, with Streptococcus uberus., Micrococcus, Proteus and Actinobacillus isolated from one the uterus of one case each among the cases collected. Three Bacillus spp. one alpha Streptococcus and one gamma Streptococcus uterine isolates have been recovered from uterine cultures of controls. At this point in the analysis, no significant differences have been observed between cases and controls in CBC values. Further, while there appears to be an enhancement in Creatinine (1.43 vs 0.9, case vs control), plasma albumin concentrations are lower in case animals than controls (2.65 g/dL vs 3.25 g/dL), and plasma chloride concentrations are lower in cases than controls (93.7 mEq/L vs 99.6 mEq/L). In addition, there is a difference in total (8,98 vs 9.5) and ionized *1.13 vs 1.19) Calcium between cases and controls. Measurements of activated genes in the cases showed a pattern consistent with an ongoing inflammatory response and activation of few genes associated with adaptive immunity or its regulation was observed. This suggests that immune regulatory factors do not play a major role in the disease.
Publications
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Acute puerperal metritis (APM) in cattle is defined as the presence of a fetid, watery uterine discharge, an enlarged and flaccid uterus, and overt signs of systemic illness occurring within 21 days of calving. APM is one of the most commonly encountered and economically significant diseases affecting modern dairy cattle. Numerous risk factors for the development of metritis have been identified. Interestingly, immunosuppression in the immediate peri-partum period seems to play a significant role in the subsequent development of APM. Despite a wealth of information on the prevalence and systemic effects of bacteremia in humans with critical illness very little information exists regarding the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis. Thus, the aims of the proposed project are multi-faceted. First, we intend to determine the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis. Second, a novel disease severity scoring system based on easily obtainable clinical parameters will be developed. This scoring system will be able to be applied by veterinarians in field situations to determine which affected animals are most likely to benefit from systemic antimicrobial use. Third, the antimicrobial sensitivity profiles and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the organisms isolated from the uterus and bloodstream of affected cattle with be determined, allowing veterinarians to choose the most appropriate antimicrobial without costly delays of blood and uterine culture. Sampling, culture, immune and inflammatory assessments have been optimized for this project. Following optimization, five clinical cases and three age, parity and site matched controls have been assessed. Bacillus species (4), Clostridium spp. (1), A. pyogenes (1), Gram negative bacilli (1) and Colstridium spp. (1) have been isolate from blood cultures from acute puer[eral metritis. Bacillus spp. was also isolated from the blood culture of three controls. Arcanobacterium pyogenes has been isolated from uterine cultures of four of 10 cases. Fusobacterium was isolated from uterine cultures of two cases, E. coli from 4 cases, Clostridium difficile from 2, with Streptococcus uberus., Micrococcus, Proteus and Actinobacillus isolated from one the uterus of one case each among the 10 cases collected. Three Bacillus spp. one alpha Streptococcus and one gamma Streptococcus uterine isolates have been recovered from uterine cultures of controls. At this point in the analysis, no significant differences have been observed between cases and controls in CBC values. Further, while there appears to be an enhancement in Creatinine (1.43 vs 0.9, case vs control), plasma albumin concentrations are lower in case animals than controls (2.65 g/dL vs 3.25 g/dL), and plasma chloride concentrations are lower in cases than controls (93.7 mEq/L vs 99.6 mEq/L). In addition, there is a difference in total (8,98 vs 9.5) and ionized *1.13 vs 1.19) Calcium between cases and controls. PARTICIPANTS: David J Hurley, PhD, Professor, PI and laboratory model systems developer Amelia R Woolums, DVM, MS, PhD, Clinical supervisor Michael Overton, DVM, MS, Professor, Clinical supervisor Brent Credille, DVM, Resident and PhD candidate Sarah Breidling, Technician II Natalie Norton, MS, Laboratory manager TARGET AUDIENCES: Dairy veterinarians, animal scientists and dairy producers are the primary target audience for these studies. This project represents a new approach to understanding the interaction between reproductive infections that become systemic (bacteremia), and subsequent systemic and local inflammation, milk production and reproductive efficiency. It may lead to the development of new breeding management programs based on simple monitoring of uterine infection and inflammation and/or specific evidence of occult infection. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
We have established a simple, rapid and reproducible method to routinely sample the uterine environment of dairy cows shortly after birth to monitor the level of uterine infectious agents and systemic parameters that impact the inflammatory and immune response. Further, we have linked these measurements to a reliable blood culture method that allows for monitoring of the progression of uterine infection to bacteremia. We have now completed half of the proposed testing of the optimized set of assessments for their ability to be used in monitoring herds for the development of severe metritis cases that impact generalize inflammatory response with the probability of reducing milk production and future reproductive success. Over the past year, this method has provided clear indications of a relationship between acute puerperal metritis and bacteremia in the 10 cases assessed to date. It appears that Bacillus species are a poor indicator of metritis associated bacteremia, as both cases and controls have similar rates of blood isolates. The remaining species were only represented in the blood of cases and provide likely candidates for monitoring the severity of metritis.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Acute puerperal metritis (APM) in cattle is defined as the presence of a fetid, watery uterine discharge, an enlarged and flaccid uterus, and overt signs of systemic illness occurring within 21 days of calving. APM is one of the most commonly encountered and economically significant diseases affecting modern dairy cattle. Numerous risk factors for the development of metritis have been identified. Interestingly, immunosuppression in the immediate peri-partum period seems to play a significant role in the subsequent development of APM. Bacteremia, defined as the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, has been identified in a significant proportion of dairy cattle with acute coliform mastitis, horses with colitis, and critically ill human patients. Despite a wealth of information on the prevalence and systemic effects of bacteremia in humans with critical illness very little information exists regarding the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis. Thus, the aims of the proposed project are multi-faceted. First, we intend to determine the prevalence of bacteremia in dairy cattle with acute puerperal metritis. Second, a novel disease severity scoring system based on easily obtainable clinical parameters will be developed. This scoring system will be able to be applied by veterinarians in field situations to determine which affected animals are most likely to benefit from systemic antimicrobial use. Third, the antimicrobial sensitivity profiles and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the organisms isolated from the uterus and bloodstream of affected cattle with be determined, allowing veterinarians to choose the most appropriate antimicrobial without costly delays of blood and uterine culture. Sampling, culture, immune and inflammatory assessments have been optimized for this project. Following optimization, five clinical cases and three age, parity and site matched controls have been assessed. Bacillus species (3) and Clostridium spp. (1) have been isolate from blood cultures from acute puerperal metritis. Bacillus spp. was also isolated from the blood culture of one control. Arcanobacterium pyogenes has been isolated from uterine cultures of four of five cases. Fusobacterium was isolated from uterine cultures of two cases, and Clostridium spp.,E. coli , Clostridium difficile, and Peptostreptococcus have been isolated from the uterine cultures of cases. No uterine isolates have been recovered from uterine cultures of controls. At this point in the analysis, no significant differences have been observed between cases and controls in CBC values. Further, while there appears to be an enhancement in Creatinine (2.0 vs 0.97, case vs control), plasma albumin concentrations are lower in case animals than controls (2.85 g/dL vs 3.266 g/dL), and plasma chloride concentrations are lower in cases than controls (90 mEq/L vs 101.66 mEq/L). None of these differences have yet reached the level of significance. PARTICIPANTS: David J Hurley, PhD, Professor, PI and laboratory model systems developer Michael Overton, DVM, MS, Professor, Clinical supervisor Brent Credille, DVM, Resident and PhD candidate Sarah Breidling, Technician II TARGET AUDIENCES: Dairy veterinarians, animal scientists and dairy producers are the primary target audience for these studies. This project represents a new approach to understanding the interaction between reproductive infections that become systemic (bacteremia), and subsequent systemic and local inflammation, milk production and reproductive efficiency. It may lead to the development of new breeding management programs based on simple monitoring of uterine infection and inflammation and/or specific evidence of occult infection. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We have expanded the number of herds involved to increase the number of cases we can recover during the duration of the project.
Impacts
We have established a simple, rapid and reproducible method to routinely sample the uterine environment of dairy cows shortly after birth to monitor the level of uterine infectious agents and systemic parameters that impact the inflammatory and immune response. Further, we have linked these measurements to a reliable blood culture method that allows for monitoring of the progression of uterine infection to bacteremia. We are now testing the optimized set of assessments for their ability to be used in monitoring herds for the development of severe metritis cases that impact generalize inflammatory response with the probability of reducing milk production and future reproductive success. As only three months of work had been done by the end of December, we are still formulating the applications for the field.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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