Subclinical Endometritis in Postpartum Buffaloes: An Emerging Threat

Buffalo contributes 12.8 per cent of world milk supply. In India, buffalo accounts for 33 per cent of the milk producing animals and 45 per cent of overall milk production of the country. Optimum fertility of buffaloes is the key to economically successful dairy farming. Postpartum uterine infections have negative impact on reproductive performance leading to drastic reduction in farm return. Endometritis being one of the major postpartum disorder causing heavy losses to dairy industry. Postpartum sub-clinical endometritis is defined as an endometrial inflammation occurring 21 days or more after parturition without any clinical signs whereas clinical endometritis is indicated by the presence of purulent/mucopurulent discharge. Routine methods for diagnosing endometritis involve uterine biopsy, lavage and swab but these techniques causes irritation and distortion of cells. Endometrial cytology by cytobrush technique is most efficient and early diagnostic technique when used along with microbial assay for diagnosis of sub-clinical endometritis. Following diagnostic accuracy, one has to use appropriate therapy for management of this condition. An effective treatment is one which eliminates load of pathogenic bacteria and enhances uterine defense and repair mechanisms, and thereby halts and reverses the inflammatory changes that impair fertility. The treatment of endometritis should not be limited to clinical or bacteriological cure but also be economical and should improve the fertility. A wide variety of therapies for endometritis have been used with variable success proving the treatment of this condition to be still challenging.