Comparison of Inflammatory and Metabolic Markers During the Transition Period in Multiparous Holstein Cows with Cytological Endometritis, with or Without Concurrent Clinical Disease, and in Healthy Cows

Inflammation is a major risk factor for cytological endometritis (CYTO) in dairy cows. This study evaluated plasma concentrations of positive acute phase proteins (APPs) including haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and ceruloplasmin, as well as the negative acute phase protein albumin and the metabolic markers cholesterol and insulin-like growth factor-1 during the transition period. Blood was collected from multiparous Holstein cows at −14 days prepartum and 7 and 21 days postpartum. Endometrial cytology samples were collected at 40 ± 2 days postpartum, and CYTO was diagnosed using a polymorphonuclear neutrophil threshold of >8%. Cows were classified according to CYTO status and the presence of clinical disease or calving-related disorder (DIS) as CYTO/DIS− (n = 14), CYTO/DIS+ (n = 22) or HEALTHY (n = 50). APP and metabolic marker profiles associated with CYTO differed according to concurrent disease/disorder status. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations at 7 days postpartum were higher and albumin concentrations at 21 days postpartum were lower in both CYTO groups than in healthy cows (p < 0.05), suggesting that these markers may have potential value for identifying cows at risk of CYTO, irrespective of concurrent clinical disease or calving-related disorder. Further studies are needed to validate their predictive performance.