General immunobiological reactivity of the body and the microbial makeup of the bovine uterus during the puerperium
Georgiev, S.
Veterinarno-Meditsinski Nauki 15(5): 69-77
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0324-1068 PMID: 741647 Document Number: 137540
Uterine swabs and blood samples were taken from 60 Simmental cows, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 15 days after calving. The blood samples were examined for phagocytic activity of leukocytes, bactericidal activity and agglutinins to Escherichia coli (against which the cows had been immunized), Staphylococcus aureus, "Staphylococcus albus" and Proteus vulgaris. A normal puerperium was accompanied by low bacterial counts in the uterus, high agglutinin titres, high bactericidal activity, and slightly higher phagocytic activity than cows with an abnormal puerperium. Puerperal infection, seen in 20 of the cows, was associated with low bactericidal activity and a fall in gamma-globulin concentration to below 0.4 g per 100 ml of serum.