EN
Currently, subclinical endometritis is being discussed as an important cause of reduced conception rates in dairy cows. Inflammation of the endometrium alters the uterine environment and disrupts conception or embryo survival. Subclinical endometritis mainly results from persistent bacterial infection during parturition. Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Prevotella spp., Fusobacterium necrophorum and Escherichia coli are major uterine pathogens. The association between infection with bovine herpes virus 4 and endometritis is suggested. Subclinical endometritis has been histologically diagnosed in 30-50% of repeat breeding cows. Recently, uterine cytology collected by cytobrush or lavage is used for the diagnosis of endometrial inflammation. Subclinical endometritis is defined as the presence of > 18% neutrophils in uterine cytology collected 21-33 days postpartum or > 10% neutrophils at 34-47 days. Prevalence of subclinical endometritis in different studies ranges from 30 to 70 percent. There are no practical recommendations for the treatment of subclinical endometritis. The use of prostaglandin F₂a and intrauterine infusion of antibiotics or proteolytic enzymes has been described.