The effect of a single administration of cephapirin or cloprostenol on the reproductive performance of dairy cows with subclinical endometritis

This study examined the effect of a single administration of cephapirin in or cloprostenol im on the reproductive performance of dairy cows with subclinical endometritis. Cows (n = 228) at 20-33 days in milk (DIM) from two commercial dairy farms, determined to be normal for clinical endometritis (based on absence of abnormal uterine discharge on vaginoscopic examination) were enrolled. At enrollment, a thorough reproductive examination was performed, including rectal palpation, ultrasonography (US) and endometrial cytology (EC). The case definition for subelinical endometritis was the presence of > 18% neutrophils on EC examination or fluid in uterus (FIU) on US examination. All cows were randomly assigned to receive one of three treatments: 500 mg benzathine cephapirin in, 500 mu g cloprostenol im, or control (no treatment). Reproductive performance was monitored for a minimum of 8 months after treatment. Cows with subclinical endometritis treated with cephapirin or cloprostenol had a significantly increased relative pregnancy rate compared to control [hazard ratios 1.89 (P = 0.01) and 1.70 (P = 0.05), respectively]. In conclusion, a single treatment with cephapirin or cloprostenol at 20-33 DIM significantly improved the reproductive performance of cows with subclinical endometritis. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.