INTRAUTERINE PROTEOLYTIC ENZYME THERAPY FOR SUBCLINICAL ENDOMETRITIS IN DAIRY CATTLE

Abstract

Intrauterine (I/U) administration of proteolytic enzymes for treating subclinical endometritis was investigated in
dairy cattle exhibiting subclinical endometritis that was diagnosed on the basis of apparently clear cervico-vaginal
mucus and uterine cytobrush cytology (≥4% PMN cells). At spontaneous estrus, subclinical endometritic cattle
were administered either single I/U infusion of Mastivexym ointment (trypsin 8 mg, chymotrypsin 8 mg, papain 4
mg, α-tocopherol acetate 120 mg and retinyl palmitate 58.83 mg; Group I, n=10) or single I/U infusion of crude
formulation of aforesaid enzymes and vitamins in similar quantities dissolved in 10 ml distilled water (Group II,
n=10). Ten subclinical endometritic cattle were kept as control (Group III). On day 12 after spontaneous estrus,
all these animals were administered (i.m.) a PGF2α analogue (Cloprostenol 500 µg). This followed administration
(i.m.) of GnRH analogue (Buserelin acetate, 20 µg) at the start of induced estrus. About 12-14 h after GnRH
analogue, cattle were artificially inseminated twice at 12 h interval. At spontaneous and induced estrus, all these
cattle were subjected to cytobrush technique for assessing PMN%, and microbial assay of cytobrush for bacterial
load. Following enzyme therapy at spontaneous estrus, a reduction (p<0.05) in PMN% and bacterial load was
observed at subsequent induced estrus in treated animals. Also, first service pregnancy rate were higher (p<0.05)
in treated groups compared to control counterparts (50 vs. 20%). It was concluded that intrauterine proteolytic
enzymes could be used to improve pregnancy rate in subclinical endometritic dairy cattle.