Production, reproductive, and metabolic factors associated with chlamydial seropositivity and reproductive tract antigens in dairy herds with fertility disorders

While chlamydial infections cause abortions in cattle, its role in other reproductive disorders is uncertain. This study identified the risk factors for chlamydial infection in herds with history of subfertility. We investigated the possible effects of coinfections, different metabolic parameters, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theriogenology 2005-02, Vol.63 (3), p.923-930
Main Authors: Wehrend, Axel, Failing, Klaus, Hauser, Bernhard, Jäger, Cornelie, Bostedt, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid - blood
Abortion, Veterinary - microbiology
Animals
Antibodies, Bacterial - blood
Antigens, Bacterial - analysis
Cattle
Cattle Diseases - microbiology
Chlamydia - immunology
Chlamydia infections
Dairy cow
Female
Housing, Animal
Hypocalcemia - microbiology
Hypocalcemia - veterinary
Infertility, Female - microbiology
Infertility, Female - veterinary
Logistic Models
Ovarian Cysts - microbiology
Ovarian Cysts - veterinary
Risk Factors
Uterus - microbiology
Vagina - microbiology
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Summary:While chlamydial infections cause abortions in cattle, its role in other reproductive disorders is uncertain. This study identified the risk factors for chlamydial infection in herds with history of subfertility. We investigated the possible effects of coinfections, different metabolic parameters, abortion, ovarian cysts, pathological vaginal discharge, length of the open period, milk yield, housing conditions and age. In cows from 34 farms with elevated reproductive disorders, 41.5% had antibodies against chlamydia, while chlamydia antigen was detected in the vagina and uterus of 46.7%. A statistical relationship between seropositivity and antigen positivity was not found. Abortion (OR = 6.6) and loose housing (OR = 2.3) were risk factors for the presence of chlamydia antibodies. Furthermore, there were significant relationships between metabolic disorders and chlamydial infections. Increased levels of beta-hydroxybutaric acid (OR = 6.8) and hypocalcaemia (OR = 6.0) often accompanied chlamydia antigen in the vagina. Increased age (OR = 1.2) and pathological vaginal discharge (OR = 2.4) were identified as risk factors for chlamydia antigen in the vagina. The largest risk factor was for the association of ovarian cysts (OR = 21.5) with uterine antigen. In conclusion, chlamydial infection in dairy herd cows is best understood as a multifactorial disease.
ISSN:0093-691X
1879-3231
DOI:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.05.009