Uterine infections in the postpartum cow: II. Possible synergistic effect of Fusobacteriumnecrophorum and Corynebacteriumpyogenes

Clinical conditions, which were observed in primiparous Angus and Hereford heifers with postpartum uterine infections are reported. Forty-three of sixty-four cows (67%) had uterine infections. Corynebacteriumpyogenes and Fusobacteriumnecrophorum were the most frequently isolated aerobe and anaerobe, respectively. Twelve of the sixty-four cows (18.8%) had infections that involved these species. Three of these twelve cows were infected only with C.pyogenes, two were infected only with F.necrophorum, and seven were infected with both organisms. All five of the cows which were infected with either C.pyogenes or F.necrophorum showed signs of estrus and four of the five cows conceived by 110 days postpartum. The single cow that did not conceive was infected with C.pyogenes. Three of the seven cows which were infected with both organisms showed signs of estrus and none of the seven cows conceived by 110 days postpartum. In addition, when only C.pyogenes or F.necrophorum was isolated from the uterus, cows had either mild or no clinical signs of infection. In contrast, the seven cows which were infected with both organisms had severe clinical signs of infection that included excessive vulvar discharge, uterine abscesses and pelvic adhesions. These observations suggested that a pathogenic synergism between C.pyogenes and F.necrophorum might have caused the increased severity of postpartum uterine infections, and the subsequent detrimental effect on return to estrus and conception.