RESPONSE OF INTRAUTERINE INFUSION OF LUGOL'S IODINE IN INFECTIOUS REPEAT BREEDING CATTLE

Abstract

Repeat breeding cows (n=24) with endometritis were divided into four groups of six animals each. In group I
(control), sing'..:i infusion of 30 ml sterile distilled water whereas, in groups II, Ill and IV 30 ml of lugol's iodine 0.5
(single infusion), 0.25 (single infusion) and 0.1 per cent (double infusion at 24 h interval), respectively, were
administered intrauterine on the day of estrus. A total of 27 bacterial isolates yielded from the uterine sw~bs of
these cows before treatment were E.coli (29.6%), Bacillus spp. (25.9%), Klebsiella spp. (22.2%), Streptococcus
spp. ( 14.8%) and Staphylococcus au reus (7 .4 % ) . The polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNLs) were 6-11 per cent
in the cellular contents of uterine secretions before treatment in all the groups. The PMNLs increased to 70.6±6.48
(group II), 58.58±4.75 (group Ill) and 51.00±7.90 percent (group IV) by 24 h of treatment as compared to 12.00±4.77
per cent in group I and remained significantly higher in all the treatment groups upto 72 h. One cow in group I, five
in group II, two in group Ill and none in group IV yielded microbial growth on next estrus post treatment; four cows
in group II and one from group Ill conceived. It is evident from the study that lugol's iodine increased the PMNL
influx in the uterine secretions to combat infection. The best response in terms of clearing infection and conception
was achieved with 0.5 percent lugol's iodine which can be used effectively to treat bacterial endometritis.