Comparative biochemical profiles, utero-ovarian function, and fertility of the postpartum buffalo with and without subclinical endometritis

In postpartum buffaloes, the process of uterine involution and changes in blood metabolic profile has not been studied in relation to development of subclinical endometritis (SCE). In this study, buffaloes ( n = 100) approaching calving were identified. Weekly blood samples were collected on the day of calving up to 6 weeks post-calving. The diameter of uterine horns and onset of ovarian cyclicity (corpus luteum) were recorded through ultrasonography. On the basis of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) cell count in endometrial cytology at days 45–50 postpartum, buffaloes were divided into two groups, viz., with SCE (> 5% PMN; n = 38) and without SCE (≤ 5% PMN; n = 62). Buffaloes with SCE took longer ( P < 0.05) time to complete uterine involution and had larger ( P < 0.05) uterine horn diameter between 3rd and 6th weeks postpartum and lower prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM) concentration on the day of calving ( P < 0.05) and 1 week ( P < 0.001) post-calving than without SCE group. Buffaloes with SCE had lower ( P < 0.001) concentration of glucose at weeks 2 and 3, higher ( P < 0.001) β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) at week 3, and lower serum albumin concentration throughout the sampling period ( P < 0.05 to 0.001) except at 1 week post-calving as compared to without SCE group. The urea concentration was significantly lower ( P < 0.05 to 0.001) in buffaloes with SCE from 4 weeks post-calving onwards than without SCE group. The calcium concentration was lower in buffaloes with SCE at weeks 5 ( P < 0.001) and 6 ( P < 0.05) postpartum, whereas the concentration of magnesium and phosphorus was uniform between the two groups. No significant ( P > 0.05) difference in onset of ovarian cyclicity between the 2 groups was observed, whereas buffaloes with SCE had longer ( P = 0.001) median days open (141 days) than their counterpart (117 days). The first service conception rate, cumulative pregnancy rate, and pregnancy rate at 150 days postpartum were lower ( P < 0.05) in buffaloes with SCE than without SCE group. In summary, higher BHBA and lower serum concentrations of glucose, albumin, urea, and calcium control onset of subclinical endometritis which in turn has negative impact on fertility of buffaloes.