Effect of uterine infection on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy animals - A review

Abstract

A healthy uterine environment is believed to be the main determinant of good fertility as any sort of insult to endometrium can disrupt the normal reproductive functions leading to infertility. The development of uterine infection is governed by the immune status and execution of the same against the infectious agents, bacterial load/ number and its virulence. Post-partum uterine infection results in persistent inflammatory responses in the endometrium and subsequent infertility. Uterine infection may delay the time of uterine involution, compromises ovarian follicular growth, luteal dysfunction by altering the luteal cell activity, postpartum resumption of ovarian activity, number of services per conception, number of days open and subsequently prolongs the inter-calving interval. Further at the hypothalamic and pituitary level, the estradiol-induced preovulatory LH surge is blunted with intravenous infusion of bacterial endotoxin or administration into the uterus. Uterine infection incurs a huge economic loss to the dairy farmers. Uterine infection not only affects milk production but also have a negative impact on the ovarian follicular development and steroid production, expression of estrus and ultimately the conception rate. Keeping in view all the above-mentioned facts, the following review will try to enlight the impact of uterine infection on milk production and reproductive performance in dairy animals.