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Cervicitis
Synonym(s): cervix, discharge
Introduction
- The cervix forms the anatomical and functional barrier between the vagina and the uterus, and is formed from a series of mucosal-lined collagenous rings
Female reproductive tract: normal anatomy.
- The cervical mucus helps prevent bacteria ascending into the uterus from the lower genital tract.
- It is often overlooked in physical examinations and differential diagnosis lists for causes of infertility in cattle, but is susceptible to inflammation, infection and trauma.
- Cause: can be secondary to trauma, urovagina or metritis/endometritis/pyometra.
- Signs: reduced fertility with normal uterine findings.
- Diagnosis: vaginoscopy to identify the presence of a swollen and prolapsed 2nd cervical fold, +/- vaginal pus.
- Treatment: dependent on cause. May include PGF2a, correction of initiating problem and/or antibiotics.
- Prognosis: good.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Cervicitis is defined as inflammation of the cervix and may be associated with:
- calving injury Dystocia
- trauma
- retained fetal membranes RFM
- urovagina
- endometritis Abnormal vaginal discharge
- pyometra Uterine infections: overview.
- It can be classified into 3 stages of severity:
- C0 – normal cervix.
- C1 – cervicitis with a swollen and prolapsed 2nd cervical fold.
- C2 – cervicitis with a swollen, reddened and prolapsed 2nd cervical fold.
Pathophysiology
- Cervicitis is often caused due to exposure to inflammation generated by luminal debris from the uterus (metritis or endometritis) or from the vagina (urine due to urovagina).
- However, it can occur independently from both of these mechanisms.
- Secondary to trauma during calving, or occasionally secondary to poor AI technique Artificial insemination.
- However, it can occur independently from both of these mechanisms.
- Cervicitis may eventually induce subsequent inflammation within the uterus (endometritis), leading to reduced fertility.
- An inflamed cervix may also be responsible for blood contamination of the uterine body during passage of the cervix required for AI -> subfertility.
Epidemiology
- Prevalence is estimated at between 15-60% in cows 42-50 days postpartum.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed Papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Hartmann D, Rohkohl J, Merbach S, Heilkenbrinker T, Klindworth H P, Schoon H A, Hoedemaker M (2016) Prevalence of cervicitis in dairy cows and its effect on reproduction. Theriogenology 85, 247-253 PubMed.
- Bilber R O (2016) Management of reproductive disease in dairy cows. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 32, 387-410.
- Gilbert R O (2016) Management of reproductive disease in dairy cows. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 32, 387-410 PubMed.
- De Boer M W, LeBlanc S J, Dubuc J, Meier S, Heuwieser W, Arlt S, Gilbert R O & McDougall S (2014) Systematic review of diagnostic tests for reproductive-tract infection and inflammation in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 97 (7), PubMed.
- Deguillaume L, Geffre A, Desquilbet L, Dizien A, Thoumire S, Vorniere C, Concstant F, Fournier R, Chastnant-Maillard S (2012) Effect of endocervical inflammation on days to conception in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 95, 1776-1783 PubMed.
- Sheldon I M, Lewis G S, LeBlanc S & Gilbert R O (2006) Defining postpartum uterine disease in cattle. Theriogenology 65, 1516-1530 PubMed.
- Gilber R O, Coubrough R I, Venter B J, Witcomb M A (1985) Successful transfer of embryos recovered from a cow with chronic cervicitis of mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial aetiology a case report. Theriogenology 23, 593-596
Other sources of information
- WHO (2017) Critically important antimicrobials. [online]. Available at: www.who.int.