Interrelationship between diseases and calving season and their impact on reproductive parameters and milk production of tropical dairy cows

The interactions between calving season, the occurrence of retained placenta, intrauterine infections (IUI), and early mastitis, and their effects on the reproductive performance and milk yield of Holstein-Friesian cows in a tropical environment were studied using data from 3320 calvings (1948 cows) from two farms in El Salvador. Based on environmental conditions, season of calving was categorized into: quadrimester 1 (November-February), quadrimester 2 (March-June), and quadrimester 3 (July-October) where quadrimester 2 and 3 had the highest ambient temperature and relative humidity, respectively. Cows were classified into 1, 2, and 3 + parities. The effects of quadrimester and of diseases on days to first service, services per conception, days open, interval between services and 305-day milk yield were studied in separated multivariate regressions. The likelihood of experiencing a disease contingent on the calving season and the likelihood of a cow being culled due to poor fertility associated with experiencing a disease were evaluated using logistic regression. Cows calving in quadrimester 2 and 3 were more likely to suffer from IUI and showed poorer reproduction than cows calving in quadrimester 1. Reproduction was more strongly affected by IUI. Mastitis increased the days to first service, days open, and interval between services. Mastitis and IUI also caused a lower 305-day milk yield. Overall, hotter and more humid conditions lead to higher incidence of disease and poorer reproductive performance. The physiological responses that lead to these phenomena should be further studied to understand the interactions between diseases, environmental conditions and reproduction.

Newborn glaucoma: a neglected manifestation of Congenital rubella Syndrome

PURPOSE

To study the frequency of intrauterine rubella infection in a cohort of neonatal-onset glaucoma and its effect on the treatment outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Infants with neonatal-onset glaucoma presenting to the pediatric glaucoma service at a tertiary care centre in northern India at Chandigarh between 1^st January and 30^th September 2018 with a minimum postoperative follow-up of one year were included in this study. Rubella-IgM antibodies were tested in all patients. Surgery for intraocular pressure (IOP) control comprised combined trabeculotomy-with-trabeculectomy or goniotomy. Presenting features and treatment outcomes at one year were compared among babies with and without rubella-IgM antibodies.

RESULTS

Of twenty-seven eligible infants, 7(25.9%) were rubella-IgM positive, and all had bilateral glaucoma. One eye in a rubella-positive baby was an unsightly blind eye and required a prosthesis. 13 eyes of 7 patients were compared to thirty-four eyes of 20 rubella-negative patients. There was no significant difference in mean age and IOP at presentation. Rubella-positive babies had significantly more opaque corneas (p< 0.001), shorter eyes (p<0.001) and smaller corneal diameters (p=0.007) at presentation. Two patients in the rubella group had bilateral cataracts, 3 had heart disease, and 1 had sensorineural deafness. Salt-and-pepper-retinopathy was noted in both rubella positive babies where fundus evaluation was possible. Despite comparable IOP control (p=0.51), the corneal clarity remained significantly worse in the rubella-positive patients (p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Twenty-five percent of newborn glaucoma had underlying intrauterine rubella infection thus making them susceptible for development of congenital rubella syndrome. Neonatal-onset glaucoma is an important component of congenital rubella syndrome, which may present without buphthalmos and persistent corneal clouding despite good IOP control.

Epidemiological Aspects of Neonatal Mortality Due To Intrauterine Infection in Kazakhstan

BACKGROUND

In this study, we examined the epidemiological aspects of neonatal mortality due to intrauterine infections with regard to regional characteristics.

METHODS

Consolidated report of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan on children deceased during their first 28 days of life due to intrauterine infections (P23 - congenital pneumonia, P35-39 - infectious diseases specific to the perinatal period) in the country and its regions for 2010 - 2014 was used in this investigation. Descriptive and analytical methods of medical statistics and epidemiology were used as the main method of this 5-year (2010-2014) retrospective study.

RESULTS

Overall, 3,298 neonatal deaths from intrauterine infections were recorded in Kazakhstan during the period of 2010-2014, 1,925 of which were early and 1,373 were late neonatal deaths. The average annual rate of neonatal mortality rate from intrauterine infection in the country amounted to 1.73±0.23‰ (95% CI=1.27-2.19‰), whereas trends during the study period decreased (T=-15.3%). Regional characteristics of neonatal mortality were established. Different levels for cartograms of neonatal mortality from intrauterine infections were defined: low (up to 1.28‰), average (from 1.28‰ to 2.12‰) and high (by 2.12‰ and above). Neonatal mortality in the early and late periods was also analyzed.

CONCLUSION

This is the first epidemiological study of neonatal mortality from intrauterine infection, which contains a detailed space-time evaluation. The results of this investigation can be used to improve the state program to combat infant mortality.