Comparison of serum acute phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines between healthy and subclinically endometritic postpartum buffaloes

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the levels of acute-phase proteins haptoglobin [Hp], serum amyloid A [SAA] and proinflammatory cytokinesinterleukin-6 [IL-6, and IL-8] in serum of buffaloes that developed subclinical endometritis (SCE) during the early postpartum period. Endometritis, which is one of the most common postpartum diseases in cattle and occurs several weeks postpartum, causes severe economic losses. A total of 72 buffaloes, aged 3 years to 12 years and at 15–24 days post-calving, were enrolled in this study. All the animals were checked by transrectal palpation, ultrasound examination to evaluate degree of uterine involution. Endometrial cytological samples were collected by using cytobrush to determine the proportions of endometrial cells and PMNs and later incidence of cytological endometritis in week 4 postpartum buffaloes. Blood samples (10 ml) were collected weekly from week 4 to week 7 after calving to measure levels of IL-6, IL-8 and acute-phase proteins: Hp and SAA in healthy and buffalo cows that developed cytological endometritis. The experimental group consisted of 12 buffaloes with subclinical endometritis and the control group of 12 buffaloes without cytological endometritis. Analyses in both groups of cows were carried out at weeks 4, 5, 6, and 7 postpartum (DPP). The levels of the following cytokines: IL-6, IL-8 and acute-phase proteins: Hp and SAA were determined using ELISA. Twelve of 72 clinically healthy buffalo cows (16.6%) had subclinical endometritis (≥ 8 % PMN cows). The levels of IL-6, IL-8, Hp, and SAA significantly (P ≤ 0.05) were higher in buffalo cows with subclinical endometritis than healthy animals. The results indicate that the evaluation of the levels of cytokines and Hp in serum can be an important diagnostic indicator in buffalo cows that developed subclinical endometritis.