FERTILITY OF COWS AFTER DYSTOCIAS AND COMPLICATED PUERPERIUM WITH RESPECT TO BACTERIOLOGICAL AND MYCOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN THE GENITALIA

Seventy-three cows with the history of laboured calving and complicated puerperium were observed for persisting pathological conditions in the genitalia, the incidence of bacteria and micromycetes in the cervical mucus and for subsequent fertility. Clinical examination at 28 to 32 days after parturition revealed persisting pathological processes, mainly inflammations, in the genitalia of 75.34 %, incomplete involution of the uterus in 50.68 %, absence of the sexual cycle in 26.02 % and the incipient syndrome of ovarian cysts in 17.80 % of the cows. By 55 to 65 days post partum the incidence of pathological processes had substantially decreased, the most frequently processes then observed being inflammations (in 34.24 % of the cows), particularly mucopurulent endometritis (in 17.80 % of the cows). Bacteriological and mycological examination detected, in keeping with the incidence of pathological processes, a number of pathogenic species. The most frequently identified bacteria and micromycetes were Actinomyces pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and beta-streptococci, and Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus jlavus, Aspergillus ochraceus and Aspergillus parasiticus, respectively. Compared with the means obtained in the respective herds, the cows yielding pathogenic and potentially pathogenic micromycetes showed a higher incidence of reproductive disorders, worse reproduction indices and a higher cullig rate, while cows yielding pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria also showed a higher incidence of reproductive disorders and a higher culling rate but . their reproduction indices, except insemination interval, were unaffected.

ditions impairing involution of the genitalia and delaying the return of cows to the reproductive process or causing their premature culling. A number of studies are available concerning puerperal changes and processes underlying the return of the reproductive organs to a morphological and functional state permitting another pregnancy (Vlcek 1969;Kudhic et al. 1970;Buchholz and Busch 1977;Garcia 1982;G.arcia and Larson 1982), the effects of environmental and internal factors on the course of puerperium, and the possibilities to control the puerperium and stimulate its early completion (KudIac 1982;Vlcek 1982;Vlcek and Svobodova 1985;LaktiS 1977;Leidl et al. 1983;Bostedt et al. 1980;a.o.).
Other experiments by the aforementioned and other investigators were conducted in cows with a pathological course of parturition (Gamcik et al. 1983;Bostedt et al. 1979;Bostedt 1984;Buchholz et al. 1979;Sobiraj et al. 1987;a.o.) in an attempt to assess the dynamics of demonstrable alterations in the individual parts of the genitalia, subsequent reproductive disorders, efficiency of treatment using various procedures and therapeutic drugs, rate of return of the cows to the reproductive process, culling rate, losses due to puerperal complications, a.o.
The present study was designed as a contribution to a better understanding of these aspects.

Materials and Methods
The experimental animals were 73 Bohemian Pied cows or their crosses with the Holstein-Friesian breed with the history of a pathological course oftbe latest calving or puerperium, either untreated or therapeutically treated, chosen by systematic search in herds with comparable management arid feeding practices on several farms of an agricultural enterprise. They were subjected· to clinical, bacteriological and mycological examination 28 to 32 and 55 to 65 d after calving. Clinical examination (assessment of the general health status and external, vaginal and rectal examination of the genitalia) was focussed on the determination of the involution degree, renewal of ovarian activity, oestrus onset, inflammatory processes and other pathological changes, the syndrome of ovarian cysts a.o.
Bacteriologjcal and. mycological examination was carried out with routine methods to detect .pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria and micromycetes in the cervical mucus and to evaluate their incidence with respect to clinical findings and subsequent fertility.
The animals were permanently observed and eventually evaluated on the basis of either pregnancy diagnosis or infertility diagnosis and culling. The evaluation covered basic reproduction indices (conception at first and further inseminations, insemination interval, service-period, insemination index, rate of return to the reproductive process and culling rate) with respect to gynecological, bacteriological and mycological findings under consideration of age and season (summer ration vs. winter ration).

Results and DIscussion
The survey of pathological conditions diagnosed in the cows at parturition and during the puerperium is presented in Table 1. It can be seen that the most frequent complications were puerperal endometritis and retained placenta found in 54.79 % and 53.42 % of the cows, respectively. Substantially less frequent complications were. laboured parturition, prolapse of the uterus, metritis a.o. , ----.- , ", , ,  Table 2 shows the survey of residual pathological states detected in the genitalia one and two months after parturition. The reduced incidence of positive findings 2 months post partum as compared to those observed 1 month after calving indicates a tendency to healing and restoration to normal. Whereas the examination at 28 to 32 d after calving detected pathological changes in the genitalia in 75.34 % of the cows, that conducted at 55 to 65 d post partum revealed persistent pathological changes in 52.05 % of the animals. Two cows (2.73 %) had been culled by this time. This implies that 17 (23.28 %) cows were cured. The persisting pathological conditions were mainly inflammatory processes (found in 34.24 % of the cows), particularly mucopurulent endometritis (in 17.80 % of the cows). Thirteen animals (17.80 %) showed th~ incipient syndrome of ovarian cysts which was then confirmed by further examinations.
Involution and the incipient syndrome of ovarian cysts was found in 13 (17.80 %) cows (Table   3). From these findings it appears that in most cows with a complicated course or parturition and puerperium the involution of the uterus and, occasionally, also the renewal of the sexual cycle are delayed, in consequence of which the insemination interval and the service-period are prolonged. The results of bacteriological examination confirmed in keeping with our previous findings and those reported by other investigators (De Bois 1961;Lloyd et al. 1968;Vlcek 1969Vlcek , 1983Vlcek and Svobodova 1985) a substantial decrease in the content of both pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacterial species in the cervical mucus during the period under study. In cows with the renewed sexual cycle only very low bacterial counts were found. It can be seen in Table 4 that although the bacteriological examination of the cervical mucous samples colleced 28 to 32 d after calving yielded positive results in 37 (50.68 %) cows, large bacterial counts were found only in 7 (9.58 %) animals. In most cows the isolation attempts yielded only solitary bacterial colonies (in 19 cows, i.e. in 26.02 % of the animals) or negative results (in 36 cows, i.e. in 49.31 % of the animals).
On examination at 55 to 66 d post partum positive findings were even less numerous, being found in 24 (36.36 %) cows. Major bacterial contamination of the cervical Table 5. Survey and involvemen( of pathogenic, potentially pathogenic and saprophytic bacteria isolated from the cervical mucus of COWl with the complicated course of parturition or puerperium 1 and :z months post partum    The survey of the isolated pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacterial species is presented in Table 5. Of the species that may either produce pathological changes in the genitalia or be involved in their development, our isolation attempts yielded mainly Actinomyces pyogenes (>>Corynebacterium pyogenes«) and Staphylococcus aureus which are involved particularly in the aetiology of suppurative processes. Potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated by us included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and beta-streptococci. Table 5 also shows the proportions of cows yielding pathogenic, potentially pathogenic and saprophytic bacteria 1 and 2 months after parturition. The finding of fewer pathogenic and potentially pathogenic species in the samples collected 55 to 65 d post partum is in keeping with the trend to amelioration of the health status, renewal of the sexual cycle and with the reduced total bacterial content of the genitalia.
Similar results were obtained upon mycological examination which yielded a relatively broad spectrum of micromycetes in the cervical mucus of cows with a complicated course of parturition and peurperium. Their survey, together with the incidence of the individual pathogenic, potentially pathogenic and saprophytic species is shown in The incidence of pathogenic, potentially pathogenic and saprophytic micromycetes in the cervical mucus of cows with a complicated course of parturition and puerperium at I and 2 months post partum is shown in Table 7. Comparison with the results of bacteriological examination shows that the total incidence of micromycetes also decreased, but the proportion of persisting pathogenic and potentially pathogenic species remained higher.
The subsequent fertility of cows with the findings of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria and micromycetes is shown in Table 8. The proportion of cows that failed to conceive and were culled was 6.5 % higher among those yielding pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria than in the animals yielding saprophytic bacteria or negative findings (44.00 % vs. 37.50 %). Similarly, in cows yielding pathogenic and potentially pathogenic micromycetes the proportion of those that failed to conceive and were culled was 8.2 % higher than in the animals yielding saprophytic species or negative findings (45.45 % vs. 37.25 %). Evaluation of the insemination interval, service-period and insemination index in cows that yielded pathogenic and potentially pathogenic micromycetes and conceived showed a substantial increase of all these values and delayed conception. That micromycetes may exert negative effects on reproduction in cattle was also pointed out by Rob and Toman (1970), Fejes (1972) and Krpatovli (1974). Our results obtained along this line in cows yielding pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria are, except a prolonged insemination interval, not convincing (Table 8). However, our results were necessarily affected by the fact, demonstrated by our previous and current research, that pathological processes and infections of the genitalia are more frequen.t in younger cows which, on the other hand, respond better to therapy and show      a better tendency to healing and renewed fertility than older animals (see Tables 9  and 12). Moreover, the results may have also been affected by the approach of the herdsman who is interested in systematic and intensive therapy particularly in younger cows with prospective higher performance and sometimes culls older animals without awaiting therapeutic results. The present findings confirm the fact that microbes do not exert a decisive effect on bovine health and reproduction but play a role in the interaction with other environmental effects and additional factors.
Comparison of the findings of bacteria and micromycetes in the cervical mucus of cows of various age categories (Table 9) showed a higher incidence of pathogens in younger cows with I to 3 calvings. However, the evidence from Table 12 comparing the reproduction indices and culling in cows of various ages also shows a better tendency to recovery and renewed fertilty in younger cows. Of 1-to III-parous cows, 41.02 % conceived at first insemination, altogether 74.35 % conceived at first or subsequent inseminations and 25.64 % failed to conceive and were culled. Of cows with the history of 4 or more calvings, only 23.52 % conceived at first insemination, altogether 44.11 % conceived at first or subsequent inseminations and 55.88 % failed to conceive and were culled. Table 10 shows the incidence of bacteria and micromycetes in the cervical mucus of cows with a complicated course of parturition and puerperium in relation to feeding (winter ration vs. summer ration). The findings of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria prevailed in winter and spring (in 45.64 % vs. 18.50 % cows) in keeping with the expected reduced resistance and higher occurrence of pathological conditions during these seasons. The incidence of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic micromycetes was higher in summer (in 33.33 % vs. 28.24 % cows). Environmental conditions favouring the multiplication of micromycetes and thereby also their penetration into the genitalia may occur both in winter and in summer. In winter the underlying causes are to be seen in insufficient ventilation of wet and warm barns, in inadequate storage of wet feed, etc. Similar conditions arise also in summer in consequence of rainy weather and mowburnt feed. Air-drying of mouldy feed in hot summer days then produces conditions favouring the spread of micromycctes in a dusty environment.
From Table II it can be seen that the incidence of cases with a complicated course of parturition and puerperium was higher in winter and spring, but the conception rate was lower and the culling rate was higher in summer. This fact may have also affected the evaluation and confirms our previous findings that in summer the saccharide-protein ratio of the ration is often less adequate and subclinical metabolic disorders exerting negative effects on fertility are more frequent.
Adverse effects of a complicated course of parturition and puerperium on subsequent fertility of the cows can be seen in Table 13. Of the affected cows, 29 (39.72 %) failed to conceive and were culled, a total of 44 (60.27 %) cows conceived, but the proportion of those conceiving at first insemination was only 32.87 %. The insemination interval was substantially prolonged and the service-period was longer than normal. A substantial impairment of all the reproduction indices becomes apparent on comparison with the mean values obtained on the individual farms of the agricultural enterprise under study.