Authors : Erhan Ozenc, Esra Seker and Nurhan Dogan
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between pH values for the uterine horns and uterine bacterial flora during phases of sexual cycle, pregnancy and cases of clinical metritis in the cow. Post-mortem pH values for the uterine horns of 145 cows were measured using a digital pH meter with a flexible probe. In addition, stage of the sexual cycle of the cows was evaluated by external examination and microbiology and ultrasonography. The mean pH values for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus+E. coli growth within the uterine horns were detected to be higher than those with Micrococcus sp. and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS)+Candida sp. growth (p<0.05). As the mean uterine pH value of microbial growth at estrous cycle was determined to be significantly higher than those without microbial growth (p<0.05), the mean pH value for uterine horns with microbial growth were determined to be higher than without microbial growth when phases of sexual cycle were collectively evaluated (p<0.05). In addition, mean pH values during pregnancy in the uterus with microbial growth were detected to be significantly higher than those of without microbial growth (p<0.05). However, the mean pH value of uterine secretions was determined as 7.25±0.44 in cases of clinical metritis. In conclusion, selection of intrauterine drugs and phases of drug use in cows were deemed to be designed by considering the uterine bacterial flora and phases of sexual cycle.
Erhan Ozenc, Esra Seker and Nurhan Dogan, 2010. The Effect of Bacterial Flora on Uterine pH Values, Observed During the Estrous Cycle, Gestation and in the Cases of Clinical Metritis in Cows. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 3000-3004.