Bovine endometritis: current and future alternative therapy

Abnormal parturition can be followed by a persistent endometritis which can have deleterious effects on the cow's subsequent reproductive performance. Normal and active uterine defense mechanisms have been reported to be very important for the exclusion of bacterial infection from the uterus and recovery from endometritis developing after parturition. Despite the widespread use of local or systemic antibiotics, antiseptics, sulfonamides and hormones, rates of recovery from endometritis and the cow's subsequent fertility have not increased appreciably. Furthermore, the cost of any treatment, the frequency of its administration and the milk disposal after treatment make their use uneconomic. Alternative therapies which stimulate the natural uterine defense mechanisms have been suggested as treatments of bovine endometritis. These include: (I) Endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharide of E. coli, (II) serum, plasma or hyperimmune serum, (III) polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) extracts and components and (IV) granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors (G-M CSF).