Investigation on leukocyte profile of periparturient cows with or without postpartum reproductive disease

ObjectiveTo determine the leukocyte profile in periparturient cows and their relation with the development of postpartum reproductive diseases (PRD).MethodsForty one advanced pregnant cows at 240 days of gestation were selected and critically observed daily during the periparturient period. Blood sampling was done for each experimental animal on 15 days prepartum (−15 d), calving day (0 d), 15 days (15 d) and 30 days (30 d) post partum (pp) for determination of total leukocyte (TLC) and differential leukocyte count (DLC) and thorough gynaecological examination was performed on 0 d, 15 d, 30 d and 45 d pp for diagnosis of PRD like retained placenta (ROP), clinical metritis (CM), clinical endometritis (CE), cervicitis (CT) and delayed involution of uterus (DIU).ResultsThe percentage of cows suffered from various post partum reproductive diseases was 41.46% (17/41). In normal cows, a significant increase in TLC from −15 d to 0 d followed by significant decline has been observed at 15 d and 30 d. The cows suffering from ROP (25.52±2.49), CM (26.57±3.17) and CE (25.09±2.95) showed significantly (P<0.01) higher neutrophil% than normal cows (15.05±1.25) on day 15 pp. The normal cows showed significant higher lymphocyte% during the periparturient period than the cows with PRD on post partum days (15 d and 30 d). The neutrophil% and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio increased from −15 d to the 0 d in all the groups of cows followed by a general decrease during the post partum days.ConclusionsThe neutrophil% and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio was higher in the cows with PRD during periparturient period. Thus, the increased neutrophil percentage and neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio observed at day15 postpartum is an indication of PRD in cows. The significant rise in TLC on the day of calving than prepartum and post partum days only in normal cows is physiological. It is also clear that cows suffering from ROP most likely to suffer from other post partum reproductive diseases.