American Dairy Science Association 2025 Abstracts of FDIU origin

ADSA 2025 Annual Meeting PDF of Abstracts

ADSA 2025 Abstract #1104

Differences in liver metabolism, inflammation, and behavior associated with vaginal discharge characteristics in peripartum dairy cows

F. N. S. Pereira1, A. Martelo-Pereira1, M. H. Rashid1, E. F. Santos1,2, M. N. Potter2, C. S. McConnel1, J. R. Wenz1, H. F. Monteiro3, J. Ranches4, R. C. Neves5, E. Trevisi6, C. C. Figueiredo1

  • 1Department ofVeterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, WA
  • 2Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, WA
  • 3Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, CA
  • 4Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC), Oregon State University, OR
  • 5Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, IN
  • 6Department of Animal Sciences, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy

Our objectives were to assess liver metabolism, uterine inflammation, and behavior associated with different postpartum vaginal discharge (VD) characteristics in Holstein dairy cows (n = 244). VD was visually assessed at 4, 7 and 10 DIM on a WA dairy. Cows were grouped by the highest VD score as follows: VD3 (n = 82) – clear or mucopurulent discharge with < 50% pus; VD4 (n = 97) – mucopurulent discharge with ≥ 50% pus or non-fetid watery reddish-brown discharge; and VD5 (n = 65) – fetid, watery, reddish-brown discharge. Blood was collected at days -14, -7, 1, 3, and 7 relative to calving, and albumin, cholesterol, and bilirubin concentrations measured to calculate the liver health index (LHI; positive values associated with improved cow performance/health). Daily rumination, activity, and health index (activity monitor) averages from day 14 prior to parturition to 14 DIM were analyzed by period (pre and postpartum). Uterine cytology performed at 7 DIM was used to assess the prevalence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in the uterus. ANOVA models with repeated measures considering cow nested within VD group as random effect were used. Prepartum behavior varied by group (P < 0.05); VD5 showed lower daily rumination and activity time (469 and 445 min) compared to VD3 (502 and 458 min) and VD4 (488 and 446 min). Postpartum behavior differed by group (P < 0.01), VD5 showed significantly lower daily rumination and activity time (490 and 448 min; respectively) compared to VD3 (525 and 462) and VD4 (515 and 455). Although prepartum health index was similar, VD5 had a smaller index (P < 0.01; 96.6) than VD3 (99.3) and VD4 (98.9) postpartum. No differences in LHI were observed among groups prepartum; however, VD5 postpartum LHI (-0.64) was smaller compared to VD3 (0.51) and VD4 (0.08). Postpartum uterine inflammation tended to differ (P = 0.06) among groups. A greater prevalence of PMN was observed between VD5 and VD3 (49.0 vs. 32.7%) but not between VD4 (40.3%) compared to VD3 or VD5. In conclusion, VD5 was associated with differences in behavior, liver metabolism, and a greater degree of uterine inflammation.

ADSA 2025 Abstract #2701

Long-term changes in endometrial morphology and functionality in dairy cows with metritis

M. H. Rashid1, A. Martelo-Pereira1, F. N. S. Pereira1, M. C. Oliveira Costa1, E. F. Santos1, J. A. Sexton1, M. Cicarelli1, L. B. Williams1, M. Binelli2, M. S. Waqas1, E. B. de Oliveira3, and C. C, Figueiredo1

  • 1Department ofVeterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, WA
  • 2 Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, FL
  • 3Zoetis Inc., Parsippany, NJ

Metritis affects around 20% of postpartum dairy cows and is a major risk factor for subsequent subfertility due to its carryover effect. The study aimed to assess long-term effects of metritis on endometrial morphology and functionality in dairy cows. Postpartum Holstein cows (n = 140) at the University of Idaho Dairy Center were enrolled in this cohort study. Vaginal discharge (VD) was evaluated visually within 12 DIM for the diagnosis of metritis. Cows with metritis (n = 11; MET) had fetid, watery, reddish/brownish VD and received antimicrobials. Cows without metritis (clear to purulent VD; n = 11; NoMET) of similar parity and DIM were paired as controls. Double Ovsynch was used to synchronize ovulation starting at 35 DIM, and ovulation was confirmed by ovarian ultrasonography. Cows were not inseminated. Six days after ovulation, endometrial biopsy and cytology were collected. Endometrial morphology/functionality was evaluated through H and E staining of histologic sections and light microscopy, transcriptomics (mRNA sequencing), and metabolomics (untargeted gas chromatography). For transcriptomic data (biopsy), gene expression between MET and NoMET was compared using DESeq2. Metabolomic analysis (cytology) was conducted using Partial Least Square Discriminant Analysis and PERMANOVA. Histologic assessment (biopsy) highlighted a numerically reduced average number of endometrial glands between MET and NoMET (13 vs. 15 glands/10x field) and a numerically greater percentage of cows with endometrial fibrosis between MET and NoMET (63 vs. 44%). On transcriptomic analysis, 17 genes were differently expressed (FDR ≤ 0.10) between MET and NoMET. Briefly, genes related to cell differentiation and regeneration, including FOS, FOSB, EGR1-3, and SPP1, were upregulated in MET, while genes related to immune function, including AOC1, FCMR, and ICOS, were upregulated in the NoMET group. Enrichment analysis showed that TNF signaling pathway was upregulated (P = 0.05) in MET group. No differences in uterine metabolome (cytology) were associated with metritis. Our data suggest that metritic cows sustain chronic endometrial damage which is manifested in transcriptomic changes but not translated to the uterine metabolome.

ADSA 2025 Abstract #1166

Differences in uterine and plasma metabolome associated with vaginal discharge characteristics in postpartum dairy cows

M. H. Rashid1, S. Casaro2, R. S. Bisinotto2, R. C. Chebel2,3, J. E. P. Santos3, C. D. Nelson3, J. G. Prim4, S. J. Jeon5, R. C. Bicalho6, J. P. Driver7, K. N. Galvão2, and C. C. Figueiredo1

  • 1Department ofVeterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, WA
  • 2Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, FL
  • 3Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, FL
  • 4Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
  • 5Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Long Island University, NY
  • 6FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals, TX
  • 7Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO

This study aimed to evaluate differences in plasma and uterine metabolome associated with vaginal discharge (VD) characteristics in lactating Holstein dairy cows. VD was visually evaluated on the day of calving (D0), 3, 7 and 10 DIM  and scored as follows: VD1 = clear mucus/lochia, n = 14; VD2 = clear mucus with flecks of pus, n = 18; VD3 = mucopurulent with < 50% of pus, n = 13; VD4 = mucopurulent with ≥ 50% of pus or reddish/brownish mucous discharge not fetid, n = 7; VD5 = watery, reddish/brownish, and fetid discharge, n = 52. Cows were grouped based on the highest VD observed within 10 DIM which was considered day of diagnosis (Dx); none of the cows had a subsequent increase in VD after Dx. Plasma samples were retrieved from cows at 14 days prepartum (PP), D0, and Dx, while uterine contents were retrieved at D0 and Dx only via low volume lavage using sterile saline solution. Plasma and uterine metabolome were analyzed by untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry. A total of 167 and 253 metabolites were annotated for plasma and uterine datasets, respectively. Differences in plasma and uterine metabolome according to VD at each time interval were assessed via Principal Component Analysis and PERMANOVA, using parity (balanced across VD) as random effect. Pairwise PERMANOVA was used to identify the differences among VD groups. In plasma at PP, difference was observed only between VD1 and VD5 (P < 0.01). At D0, VD5 was different (P < 0.01) from VD1-3, but not from VD4; no differences were observed among VD1-4. At Dx, VD5 differed (P < 0.02) from all other VD groups; no differences were observed among VD1-4 (P ≥ 0.11). In the uterus, no differences (P > 0.05) were associated with VD at D0. At Dx, VD5 differed (P < 0.01) from all other VD groups; no differences were observed among VD1-4 (P ≥ 0.29). Uterine metabolites associated with bacterial function and inflammation including spermidine, erythritol and arachidonic acid were more abundant in VD5 than in other VD groups. The changes in plasma and uterine metabolomic composition were mainly restricted to VD5 as compared to VD1-4, that were similar among each other.

ADSA 2025 Abstract #1251

Associations of preweaned lung consolidation on the periparturient peripheral leukocyte transcriptome in primiparous Holstein dairy cows

Richmond, Lindsey C.1,Joel A. Velasco2, Stephen P. Ficklin2, Corinna T. Cauchy1, Lindsay M. Parrish1, Kathlyn N. Heaton1, Caio C. Figueiredo1, Craig S. McConnel1

  • 1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Field Disease Investigation Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
  • 2Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America

The periparturient period in dairy cattle demarcates a critical period of health due to substantial physiological demands (e.g., metabolic, immunologic) related to parturition and lactation. The ability to successfully adapt to these changes ultimately dictates their productive life. This study aimed to explore the peripheral leukocyte transcriptome for potential intrinsic immune factors driving the periparturient period relative to evidence of previously diagnosed calfhood disease (e.g., bovine respiratory disease (BRD)). Calves enrolled within the first 10 days of life (May 2021: n=61; May 2022: n=60) were evaluated weekly for 12 weeks via thoracic ultrasonography. Cows with a successful first lactation transition (n=25) were eligible for further analyses based on retrospective classification of either “healthy” (no consolidation; n=10) or “chronic” (≥1 lung lobe consolidated for ≥3 weeks in duration; n=15). Leukocytes were isolated from whole blood samples collected during the first and second week of lactation via modified Ficoll-Paque separation followed by RNA extraction (miRNeasy kit) and sequencing. RNA sequence analysis conducted with EdgeR identified 1,370 upregulated and 786 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The putative functions of DEGs were obtained with functional enrichment analysis via FUNC-E v2.0.1. Cows with preweaned BRD had notable immune regulation differences (e.g., downregulated gene clusters (n=9) associated with cell migration and natural killer cell regulation; upregulated gene clusters (n=27) related to stress response signaling and proinflammatory cytokine regulation) when compared to cows with no preweaned BRD. These immunoregulatory differences suggest that preweaned disease may have underlying and persistent impacts on immune factors driving the periparturient period. Further exploration of these factors may provide a complementary insight into associated disease phenotypes and transition cow management. Additionally, this can further inform genetic selection strategies aimed at reducing production loss while increasing disease resiliency.