Bovine Postpartum Metritis and its Therapeutics: A Review

Metritis is the inflammation of the uterus causing severe economic loss to the dairy farmers due to failure of conception at the appropriate time. Variety of microorganisms are responsible for causing metritis, among which Arcanobacterium pyogenes, coliforms and the Gram – negative anaerobes, Fusobacterium and Bacteroides species are frequently involved. Infections generally gain entry during calving and frequently associated with difficult birth (dystocia) and Retention of Fetal Membranes (RFM). Under normal condition the microorganisms are eliminated from the uterus during uterine involution by the normal Uterine Defense Mechanism (UDM). However, when the UDM is compromised due to various factors the clinical symptoms of metritis sets in and sometimes leading to the death of the animal. There is various therapeutics available to counteract metritis around the world with their own merits and demerits. This review presents an overall account of the postpartum metritis in dairy cows and its therapeutic measures.