Reproductive Diseases in Livestock: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control

Physical Reproductive Diseases

Lameness, dystocia-related injuries

Reproductive Diseases

Cystic follicles, metritis/endometritis, mastitis

Metabolic Reproductive Diseases

Ketosis and milk fever

Infectious Reproductive Diseases

Brucellosis, leptospirosis, trichomoniasis, vibriosis, porcine parvovirus, PRRS

Cystic Follicles

Failure to ovulate; follicle persists on ovary

Follicular Cysts

> 17 mm with no CL

Diagnosis of Cystic Follicles

Palpation and ultrasound

Treatment for Cystic Follicles

GnRH + PG (OvSynch), manual rupture/aspiration

Metritis

Uterine infection within 21 days postpartum

Endometritis

Endometrial infection > 21 days postpartum

Signs of Metritis and Endometritis

Enlarged uterus, discharge, fever, PMNs

Treatment for Metritis and Endometritis

Antibiotics (use judiciously)

Mastitis

Inflammation of mammary gland from trauma/infection

Clinical Signs of Mastitis

Swollen udder, abnormal milk, low milk, high SCC

Subclinical Mastitis

Normal udder/milk, high SCC, low milk

Diagnosis of Mastitis

California mastitis test

Treatment for Mastitis

Antibiotics + NSAIDs

Ketosis

Negative energy balance; high ketone bodies

Common in Dairy Cows

Early lactation; sheep = pregnancy toxemia

Treatment for Ketosis

Oral propylene glycol

Control of Ketosis

Proper nutrition

Milk Fever

Hypocalcemia around parturition

Associated Conditions with Milk Fever

Retained placenta, mastitis, ketosis

Treatment for Milk Fever

Calcium gluconate IV/oral calcium

Control of Milk Fever

Nutrition

Brucellosis

Brucella spp.; zoonotic

Spread of Brucellosis

By tissues, fluids, raw products

Signs of Brucellosis

Abortion, weak offspring

Control of Brucellosis

Vaccination

Leptospirosis

Leptospira spp.; zoonotic via urine

Effects of Leptospirosis

Causes infertility, abortion, milk drop syndrome

Treatment for Leptospirosis

Antibiotics reduce shedding

Control of Leptospirosis

Vaccination

Trichomoniasis

Protozoan; spread by infected bulls/semen

Effects of Trichomoniasis

Causes infertility/abortion

Control of Trichomoniasis

Cull infected bulls

Vibriosis

Campylobacter fetus; venereal disease causing endometritis, infertility, early embryonic death

Treatment for Vibriosis

Antibiotics

Control of Vibriosis

Vaccination and culling

Porcine Parvovirus

Mummified fetus, litter loss

PRRS

Major swine disease affecting reproduction and respiration

Signs of PRRS

Abortions, mummies, stillbirths, weak piglets

Control of PRRS

Biosecurity, isolation, vaccination