NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS ON INTRA-UTERINE
TREATMENT WITH ANTIBIOTICS IN REPEAT-BREEDERS
By S. N. LUKTUKE, P. R. V. NAYUDU and P. BHATTACHARYA, Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (U.P.)
[ Received for publication on September 19, 1957
Accepted for publication on December 28, 1957 ]
D ELAY in conception due to repeat breeding is a problem in several cattle breed-
ing farms. Recently, attention has been focussed on the role the infectious
venereal diseases play in it. Information concerning saprophytic and pathogenic
bacterial flora in the bovine reproductive tract is not yet available in India. The
investigations which are in progress at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar reveal that Streptococci, Staphylococci and Corynebacteria are of common
occurrence in the reproductive tract of buffaloes. [Balprakasam, 1956.] Various work-
ers from abroad have reported the isolation of non-haemolytic and haemolytic Strep-
tococci, Staphylococci, Neisseria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and various diph-
theroids including Corynebacterium renale and Corynebacterium pyogenes from the
bovine reproductive tract [Hallman, 1921; Beaver et al., 1922 ; Fitch and Bishop,
1932 ; Hancock, 1942 ; Hatch et al, 1949 ; Easley et al., 1951; Lindley and Hatfield,
1952 ; Gunter et at., 1955.] Frank and Bryner [1952] isolated E. coli, Streptococcus
pyogenes, Streptococcus bovis, Corynebacterium bovis and Vibrio foetus from the uteri
of cows. Infection of the reproductive tract is one of the major causes of sub-
fertility in cattle. Ascending infection from vulva and vagina to the uterus invari-
ably causes endometritis.
Chambers [1948] first recorded successful use of intra-uterine treatment with
penicillin in repeat breeders. Encouraging results with antibiotics in treating repeat
breeders have also been reported by Herrick [1951] and Lindley [1954]. Intra-uterine
treatment with antibiotics has been successfully attempted in vibrionic bovine
infertility by Sjollema et al. [1949], Easterbrooks and Plastridge [1950] and Adler
[1954].
The present investigation was taken up with a view to determining the efficacy
of the intra-uterine treatment of repeat breeders with antibiotics.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Thirty six cows and four heifers belonging to the Experimental Hariana Herd
at Izatnagar were used in this investigation. Among the cows included in the
experiment, four cows had calved last in 1953, thirteen in 1954, fifteen in 1955
and the remaining four early in 1956. In 11 cows, two services did not result in
pregnancy and they were taken for treatment on returning to the third service.
93
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94
INTRA-UTERINE TREATMENT
[Vol. XXVIII, Part II,
Twentyfive cows had received more than three services each and had not settled.
The heifers were 4-5 years old and did not conceive after two services. In all these
animals no reason for failure of conception could be detected.
A proprietary preparation (Streptopenicillin-Dumex) containing :
Penicillin G Procain
Penicillin G Sodium
Streptomycin
and Dihydrostreptomycin
3,00,000 I.U.
1,00,000 I.U.
0.5 g.
0.5 g.
was dissolved in 40 ml. of sterile distilled water. A sterilised glass catheter (com-
monly used for artificial insemination) was introduced through the cervical canal
by the usual technique and the solution was injected in both the horns of the uterus
with the help of a 50 ml. record syringe. This intra-uterine infusion was given
24 hours after insemination. Twenty-four cows received one intra-uterine
treatment while the remaining twelve received one more treatment at the subsequent
oestrus. The heifers received only one treatment. All the treated animals were
carefully watched for the recurrence of oestrum after insemination and treatment.
Pregnancy was clinically diagnosed between 45 and 60 days after insemination.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The details of the results obtained are presented in Table I.
TABLE I
Intra-uterine treatment with antibiotics in 'repeat breeder' cows
Cow No.
338
340
346
353
434
448
454
457
465
471
No. of
calvings
6
6
7
6
8
7
4
2
4
4
Date of
last
calving
26-3-55
26-3-55
4-3-56
24-7-55
21-11-55
1-8-55
1-2-56
12-2-53
11-5-55
9-12-54
No. of
infertile
services
10
2
2
7
2
2
2
11
4
3
Results
N.P.
P.
P.
N.P.
N.P.
P.
N.P.
P.
P.
P.
Remarks
Pregnant after 2 treatments
2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
Pregnant after treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
June,
1958]
S.
N.
LUKTUKE
ET
AL.
95
TABLE I—contd.
Intra-uterine treatment with antibiotics in 'repeat breeder' cows
Cow No.
487
500
503
505
527
530
534
537
549
556
582
585
591
592
593
596
604
619
620
624
715
783
799
806
807
840
No. of
calvings
2
4
3
6
4
5
5
7
3
1
7
5
2
2
2
4
4
6
6
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
Date of
last
calving
14-5-54
24-5-55
6-5-55
16-2-55
27-9-53
20-12-54
7-1-54
18-3-54
31-5-55
17-9-53
17-9-55
29-1-55
23-2-54
3-9-54
5-7-54
29-7-53
12-7-54
16-11-55
17-8-54
29-9-54
11-4-55
16-10-54
27-2-56
21-1-56
20-6-55
25-12-54
No. of
infertile
services
14
3
5
4
4
4
5
3
5
4
2
3
5
3
4
2
7
3
2
7
6
4
2
2
3
Results
N.P.
P.
P.
P.
N.P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
P.
Remarks
2 treatments
Pregnant after 2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
Pregnant after 2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
Pregnant with A.I. at heat subsequent
to treatment
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to 2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to 2 treatments
Pregnant after 2 treatments
Pregnant after 2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to 2 treatments
Pregnant with A. I. at heat subsequent
to 2 treatments
P : Pregnant
N.P.: Not Pregnant
10A
96
INTRA-UTERINE TREATMENT
[Vol. XXVIII, Part II,
It will be observed that out of 36 cows treated, 20 cows conceived after
one treatment. Six of these cows did not settle to the service at treatment but
conceived at the following service. Ten cows became pregnant after two treatments.
Four of these cows conceived as a result of insemination at the oestrum following
the second treatment. The results, presented in Table I appeared in pp. 94-95
are summarised below :
No. of infertile services
2
3
2
5
6 and above
TOTAL
No. of cows treated
11
7
7
4
7
36
No. of cows conceived after
One treatment
6
5
5
3
1
20
Two treatment
3
2
1
1
3
10
The details of the results obtained in heifers are presented in Table II.
TABLE II
Intra-uterine treatment with antibiotics in 'repeat breeder' heifers
Heifer No.
757
823
835
865
Date of birth
23-3-51
29-2-52
10-2-52
5-5-52
No. of A. I.
2
2
2
2
Result
P.
P.
P.
N.P.
Remarks
Pregnant with A. I. at heat
subsequent to treatment
P : Pregnant N.P. : Not Pregnant
Tanabe and Casida [1949] observed that the initial fertilisation rate in 104
repeat breeding cows of Holstein and Guernsey breeds was as high as 66.1. per cent,
three days after service. But at 34 days the percentage having normal embryos
had dropped to 23.1 and there was an embryonic death rate of 65.11 per cent. They
considered that embryonic mortality was one of the major causes of repeat breeding.
Casida [1950] listed 'uterine infections' among others as a major cause of embryonic
mortality leading to repeat breeding.
Chambers [1948] gave intra-uterine treatment with 1 to 5 lakh units of penicillin
to five clinically normal repeat breeder cows. All the treated cows were successfully
bred at oestrus subsequent to the treatment. Herrick [1951] gave intra-uterine
penicillin and streptomycin treatment to 78 repeat breeders, of which 67 per cent
became pregnant at first service. Easterbrooks and Plastridge [1950] recommended
the use of streptomycin and penicillin for vibrionic infertility in dairy cows. It
will be observed from Tables I and II that 83.33 per cent cows and 75 per cent
98
INTRA-UTERINE
TREATMENT
[Vol. XXVIII, Part II,
have to exercise great care against the spread of genital infections. Every effort
must be made to observe strict hygienic precautions in the collection, dilution and
preservation of semen, and in handling artificial insemination equipment. Without
such precautions, there is every chance that the animals, instead of receiving artificial
insemination, will get infected.
The results with the antibiotics in the present investigations are encouraging.
Their indiscriminate use for treating infectious venereal diseases is, however, not
desirable. Random use of antibiotics in human medicine has already resulted
in the development of some strains of Staphylococci resistant to penicillin. The
use of antibiotics in animals is so far limited, and the veterinarians have to be cautious
in handling this 'double-edged weapon'.
SUMMARY
The repeat breeders, (36 cows and 4 heifers,) were given intra-uterine
treatment with an aqueous solution containing 4,00,000 I.U. of penicillin
and 1 gram of streptomycin. The treatment was given 24 hours after insemination.
Out of the treated animals, 20 cows [58.33 per cent] conceived after one treatment
and 10 cows [27.7 per cent] became pregnant after two treatments.
Out of the four heifers treated, three conceived as a result of a single treatment.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors express indebtedness to the Director, Indian Veterinary Research
Institute, Izatnagar for his interest in the work.
REFERENCES
Adler, H. C. (1954). Nordisk Vet. Med. 6 : 214
Balaprakasam, R. A. (1956). Personal communication
Basu, B.K. (1956). Personal communication
Beaver, D. C., Boyd, W. L. and Fitch, C. P. (1922). Minn. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 5
Bhattacharya, P., Luktuke, S. N., Rao., A. S. P. and De, S. K. (1953). Ann. Report, IVRI., Izatna-
gar, 1953-54
—,(1954).
Curr.
Sci. 23. 235
Casida, L. E. (1950). Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 19. 273
Chambers, E. E. (1948). North Amer. Vet. 29. 640
Das, M. S. (1956). Indian Vet. J. 33. 26
Easterbrooks, H. L. and Plastridge, W. N. (1950). J. Am. V. M. A. 118. 388
Fincher, M. G. (1952). Vet. Med. 47. 185
Fitch, C. P. and Bishop, L. (1932). Cornell Vet. 22. 225
Frank, A. H. and Bryner, J. H. (1952). J. Am. V. M. A. 120, 97
Garm, O., Hoff, H. and Skjerven, O. (1953). Nordisk, Vet. Med. 5. 401
Gunter, J. J., Collins, W. J., Owen, J., Sorensen, A.M., Scales, J. W. and Alford, J. A. (1955). Amer.
J. Vet. Res. 16. 282
Hallman, E. T. (1921). Michigan Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 54
Hatch, R. D., Fenestra, E. S. and Jennings, L. F. (1949). J. Am. V. M. A. 114. 31
June,
1958]
S.
N.
LUKTUKE,
ET
AL.
99
Herrick, J. B. (1951). Haver-Glover Messenger 31. 12. (Citation from Advances in Vet. Sci., Acad.
Press. Inc.) Pub. N.Y. 214
Ishaque S. M. and Kuppuswamy, P. B. (1957). Indian vet. J. 34. 273
Lindley, D. C. (1954). J. Am. V. M. A. 124. 187
—
and Hatfield, R. C. (1952). J. Am. V. M. A. 120. 12
Luktuke, S. N. and Nayudu, P. R. V. (1956). Unpublished data
Mohan, R. N. (1954). Indian J. vet. Sci. and A. H. 24-173
Molomut, N., Warshaw, L. J. and Cross, Elizabeth (1956). J. Am. Med. Assoc. 16. 967
Polding J. B. (1947). Indian J. vet. Sci. and A. H. 17. 147
Sjollema, P., Stegenga, T. and Terpestra, J. (1949). Proc. 16. Int. Vet. Con., London
Tanabe, T. Y. and Casida, L. E. (1949). J. Dairy Sci. 32. 237
Winters, L. M., Green, W. W. and Comstock, R. E. (1942)., Minn. Agri. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 151
EFFECT OF HIGH AIR TEMPERATURE ON PREGNANCY
IN CATTLE
By G. C. TANEJA*, Department of Physiology, University of Queensland, Australia
[ Received for publication on June 13, 1957
Accepted for publication on November 20, 1957 ]
D ELETERIOUS effects of temperature on the reproductive ability of bulls
have been reported by several workers [Phillips and McKenzie, 1934 ; Bonsma,
Scholtz and Badenhorst, 1940 ; Bonsma, 1949 ; Erb, Andrews and Hilton, 1942 ;
Casady, Myers and Legates, 1953]. Similarly, loss of sexual function in rams due to
hot environments has also been recorded [Phillips and McKenzie, 1934 ; McKenzie
and Berliner, 1937 ; Grain, Sanders and Granger, 1942; Dutt, 1953 ; Dutt and
Simpson, 1954]. Sundstroem [1927] found that male rats exposed to hot-room for
eight months failed to impregnate the oestrus females. It is also apparent that
seasonal temperature and number of services required per conception are correlated,
at least where the temperature is very high [Hilder, Fohrman and Graves, 1944;
Morgan and Davis, 1938 ; Trimberger and Davis, 1945].
However, our knowledge about the effects of heat on reproduction in the female
is limited. Decline in the fertility of cows because of high environmental tempera-
ture has been reported [Villegas, 1939 ; Hammond, 1949 ; Bonsma 1949 ; Bonsma-
Marle and Hofmeyr, 1953]. Several workers [Steinach and Kammerer, 1920 ;
Sundstroem, 1922 and Ogle, 1934] have recorded loss of sexual function in female
mice exposed to hot environments. Ragsdale, Brody, Thompson and Worstell [1948]
reported that two brucellosis-free dairy cows aborted 4½ and 6- month foetuses
respectively two days following 27 hour exposure to a temperature of 100°F. Heitman,
Hughes and Kelly [1951] who studied the effect of temperature on pregnant sows,
reported that one sow out of 13 aborted on the 103rd day of gestation. Studies of
Yeates [1953] showed an adverse effect of heat on pregnancy in the sheep. In his
experiments using Romney Marsh sheep, only one out of six ewes exposed to high
air temperature [105°F dry-bulb and 87°F wet-bulb] daily, throughout pregnancy,
lambed.
Thus it is apparent that pregnancy may be disturbed by high air temperature
in some species at least.
However, as there is no certain evidence of any adverse effect of heat on preg-
nancy in cattle, the experiment described below was undertaken to ascertain the
position in this species.
*Present address: College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbadnry-cum-Livestock Research
Institute, Mhow (M.P.).
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AIR TEMPERATURE AND PREGNANCY [Vol. XXVIII, Part II,
NATURE AND SCOPE OF EXPERIMENT
It was decided to investigate whether the normal course of pregnancy in cattle
is impaired by high air temperature or not. This involved keeping two groups of
cattle. One group acted as a control. The second, comprising the experimental
animals, was subjected to high atmospheric temperature. By running both groups
of cows with the bull twice a day, oestrus and services were noted.
It was thought probable that early pregnancy, say the first two months, would
be most susceptible to high air temperature, mainly, because implantation in the
cow occurs at the 33rd day [Milton, Berry and Butler, 1951]. However, to test
precise periods of the early stages, the experimental group was divided into 3 sub-
groups containing animals which were heated for periods centring round the 10th,
30th and 50th days of pregnancy respectively.
The duration of experimental heating decided upon was 7 or 8 days, after which
close watch was kept for the possible return to oestrus.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
(a) Animals
Twelve Australian Illawara Shorthorn [A.I.S.] heifers, each about two years of
age, were used in this experiment. The animals were in good condition and came
from a brucellosis-free herd.
A healthy fertile bull from the experimental herd was used for mating and testing
for oestrus.
(b) Management
The animals were kept on natural grazing at the Experimental Farm at Long
Pocket (Brisbane). The animals were grazed on a white clover and Paspalum
dominant pasture, including also couch and Rhodes grass. During the experimental
period, the pasture conditions remained satisfactory and no extra feeding was
required.
The animals were drafted into the mating yard twice daily, where they were
joined by the bull for indicating oestrus. For the rest of the day, the bull was kept
away from the cows. The animals had access to water in the mating yard only.
(c) Experimental groups
After the animals were numberd from 1 to 12, they were divided randomly into
4 groups of 3 each. One of these groups served as a control for 3 experimental sub-
groups. All the animals were mated with a fertile bull. Those in the control
group were allowed to proceed with pregnancy but as the animals in each of the
June, 1958]
G.
C.
TANEJA
103
three experimental groups completed 10, 30 and 50 days' pregnancy respectively,
they were subjected to heat treatment. The groups of animals and their identi-
fication numbers are given in Table I.
TABLE I
Constitution of experimental and control groups
Group
Control
10-days' pregnancy
30-days' pregnancy
50-days' pregnancy
Number of animals
3
3
3
3
Identification No.
1, 6, 9
5, 3, 11
4, 7, 10
2, 8, 12
(d) Hot-room
An air-conditioned room in which both temperature and humidity could be
controlled was used for this study and 105°F dry-bulb and 88°F wet-bulb provided
the atmospheric conditions selected for preliminary heating of each animal. This
was varied as necessary according to the "resistance" or otherwise of the animals
to heat.
The air movement in the hot room was 60 cu.ft./minute.
Animals were provided with feed and water during their stay in the hot room.
PROCEDURE
Prior to using the bull it had been ascertained that all the twelve cows were com-
ing into oestrus regularly. After completion of at least two oestrus cycles, each
cow was mated. Non-return to the bull was considered an indication of pregnancy.
Each heat-treated animal remained in the hot room for 7-8 days, room tempera-
ture being varied as necessary from the basic level to raise the animal's rectal tem-
perature each day to 106-107°F. At night, the heat was turned off and the doors
of the room were left slightly open to provide a temperature which was "safe" while
the animal was unattended, yet which preserved an elevated body temperature until
the next morning.
After each animal completed the hot room treatment, it was returned to the
farm where it was kept in a stall for a week for observation. During this week and
through the remainder of pregnancy, the heat treated animal along with others was
brought to the bull twice a day to test for oestrus.
During the course of heat treatment one of the cows (No. 2) died on the second
day of the heat treatment. It was decided to sacrifice one animal (at 4 months'
pregnancy) randomly selected from each of the three experimental groups to look
for any abnormal effects. However, as the 50 days' pregnancy group was already
104
AIR TEMPERATURE AND PREGNANCY
[Vol. XXVIII, Part II,
left with only two animals (cow No. 2 having died) no animal from that group was
slaughtered. Later on, one animal from each of the three experimental groups
was again exposed to heat at 5 months' pregnancy for 7-8 days. Atmospheric
conditions in the room were the same as before. These animals were also observed
closely for a week following the heat treatment.
RESULTS
Morning and evening rectal tempratures of all the cows studied in the experi-
mental and control groups are presented in Table II. It appears from Table II
that during the entire heat exposure, the morning body temperature of the ex-
perimental animals was higher than that of normal, while the evening body tem-
perature reached to a critical level of 106-107 °F each day.
TABLE II
Rectal temperatures (°F) of cows from various heat treated and control groups
Group
Control
10 days' pregnancy
30 days' pregnancy
50 days' pregnancy
Cow No.
1
6
9
3
5
11
4
7
10
2
8
12
Rectal temperature*
Morning
101.20±0.32
101.12±0.38
101.00±0.39
102.94±1.11
103.30±1.33
102.69±0.83
103.07±0.83
103.06±0.95
102.87±0.96
103.30±0.00†
102.56±0.76
102.63±1.04
Evening
102.18±0.48
102.37±0.42
102.20±0.40
106.27±0.61
105.84±0.66
106.31±0.66
106.00±1.05
106.33±0.86
106.17±0.40
106.20±0.00†
106.20±0.55
105.80±1.36
*Average of observations for 8 days along with standard errors.
† Average of observations for 2 days.
June, 1958]
G.
C.
TANEJA
105
(a) Effect of heat at 10th, 30th, and 50th day of pregnancy
Of the nine cows exposed to high air temperature at various stages of pregnancy
only one (No. 10) returned to oestrus subsequent to heat exposure, and that about two
months after the heat treatment. The exact date of the oestrus was not recorded.
The same cow (No. 10) was again exposed to heat for 8 days about 2 months after
the second mating. The morning and evening temperatures of this animal were
103.24±0.51 and 105.57±0.63, respectively, during the heat exposure. This time
the pregnancy held. The animal was slaughtered at about 200 days of pregnancy
and the foetus was found to be normal. It weighed 32 lb.
Cows Nos. 4 and 5 were each slaughtered at approximately the fourth month of
pregnancy. Both pregnancies were found to be normal.
(b) Effect of heating at 5th month of pregnancy
Cows Nos. 3 (Group I) and No. 12 (Group 3) were again exposed to high air tem-
perature at about 5 months' pregnancy. Their morning and evening rectal tem-
peratures reached to 102.42±0.51 and 106.40±0.04 °F, respectively for cow No 3
and 103.14±1.21 and 106.19±1.17 (respectively) for cow No. 12.
(c) Effect of heat treatment on birth weight of the calves
Birth weights of the calves from the various heat-treated and control groups
are given in Table III. From this it would appear that the heat treatment used
was without effect.
TABLE III
Birth weights of calves
Control
Cow
No.
1
6
9
Av.
wts.
Wt. of calf
lb.
66
65
57
oz.
0
8
0
Sex
M
M
F
Exp. Group No. 1
Cow
No.
3
11
—
62—9
Wt. of calf
lb.
78
56
oz.
0
0
Sex
M
F
—
72—0
Exp. Group No. 2
Cow
No.
7
—
—
Wt. of calf
lb.
57
oz.
8
57—8
Sex
F
—
—
Exp. Group No. 3
Cow
No.
8
12
—
Wt. of calf
lb.
62
57
oz.
8
8
Sex
F
M
—
60—8
63—3
DISCUSSION
In the present study it was found that one out of nine pregnant cows exposed to
heat for 7-8 days returned to oestrus. The cows in this experiment and the pregnant
sows in the experiment reported by Heitman et al. [1951] were exposed to heat for
a period of a few days only whereas in Yeates' [1953] experiments the ewes were