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Bacteriological Studies of Uteri of Clinically Normal Cows of Low Fertility¹

Departments of Bacteriology, Genetics, and Veterinary Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to determine if the uteri of clinically normal repeat-breeder cows contained microorganisms at 16 days postbreeding, a stage immediately followed by a high incidence of embryonic death. Sixty-nine repeat-breeders were slaughtered, the uteri removed aseptically, and flushed with 15 ml. of 0.1% tryptone broth. Various media were inoculated with the recovered fluid and incubated in air, in 15% CO₂ and reduced air, and in an anaerobic jar. Triturated endometrial tissue of 35 animals in the study was similarly cultured. Microorganisms were recovered from the uteri of eight (11.6%) of the 69 repeat-breeders. A yeast, Candida krusei, was isolated from four uteri, an Escherichia species from one, a Pseudomonas from one, Brucella abortus from one, and a paracolon from one. Embryos were recovered from 31 of 62 uteri from cows with anatomically normal reproductive tracts; three embryos were recovered from the eight infected uteri. Vaginal mucus samples were obtained from 35 of the animals at from 11 to 13 days postbreeding and at slaughter. One cow had a positive mucus agglutination test for Vibro fetus. Serum agglutination-lysis tests for leptospirosis were made on all animals. None was positive. Microbial infection apparently accounted for few of the embryonic deaths in these clinically normal repeat-breeders.

¹ Paper No. 652, Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, and Paper No. 239 NS, from the Department of Veterinary Science. Published with the approval of the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. This work was done under a cooperative agreement between the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dairy Husbandry Research Branch, USDA. It has been supported in part by a grant from the Research Committee of the Graduate School, from funds supplied by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and by grants from Badger Breeders' Cooperative, Consolidated Breeders' Cooperative, East Central Breeders' Cooperative, Southern Wisconsin Breeders' Cooperative, and Tri-State Breeders' Cooperative; the experimental cows were also secured through their help.

² Agent of the Dairy Husbandry Research Branch, USDA.