| PAS_1 |
In Nimar region (M.P.), India following herbal plant preparations are used for treating retained placentas : Abrus precatorius L. Family - Leguminosae Local name - Ratti, Jurang and Guraj. Evt Uses: Paste of seeds (10-12) along with jaggery is fed orally to cattle for retention of placenta. |
| PAS_2 |
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| Agro Ecological Zone |
Agro Ecological Sub Region (ICAR) Central Highlands (Malwa), Gujarat Plain (5.1) , Agro-Climatic Zone (Planning Commission) Gujarat Plains and hills region (XIII), Agro Climatic Zone (NARP) North Saurashtra, South Saurashtra (GJ-6,GJ-7) |
| Disease Symptoms / Clinical Signs |
The prominent sign associated with RP is degenerating, discoloured, ultimately fetid membranes hanging from the vulva even more than 24 hrs after parturition.
Occasionally, the retained membranes may remain within the uterus and not be readily apparent, in which case their presence may be signalled by a foul-smelling discharge.In most cases, there are no signs of systemic illness. When systemic signs are seen, they are related to toxemia. If systemic illness exists then cow shows clinical signs of fever, depression or reduction in milk yield Cows with retained fetal membranes are at increased risk of developing metritis, ketosis, mastitis, abortion in a subsequent pregnancy, increased calving interval, infertility, lower conception rate, etc. The most common symptoms include: 1. Placenta retains even after 12 hours of parturition 2. A drop in milk yield 3. Dullness & depression 4. Fever or elevated body temperature 5. Loss of appetite 6. Straining 7. Frequent urination 8. Diarrhea 9. A foul smelling vaginal discharge. These symptoms are more likely to occur in cases where placenta retention follows extensive interference as in a difficult calving. |
| Disease Description |
Retained Placenta is usually
defined as the failure to expel foetal membranes within 24 hrs after parturition. Primary
retention of the foetal membranes results from a lack of detachment from the maternal
caruncles, whereas secondary retention is related to a mechanical difficulty in expelling
already detached foetal membranes (e.g., uterine atony). Primary and secondary retention
mechanisms can coexist. Retained placenta (RP) is also known as retained foetal
membrane or retained cleansing. The placenta is the membrane that connects the foetus
with the dam. The button like structures of the placenta (cotyledons), connect with the
caruncles of the uterus. It is through these unions (placentomas), the nutrients are
transferred from the mother to the calf and wastes excretion from the foetus to the dam
(mother).. The placenta also known as afterbirth is the link between the foetus and the
mother when the foetus is inside the uterus. After a normal calving, the placenta will be expelled within 30 minutes to 8 hours. Separation of the membranes normally occurs
after the calf is born (early separation is one cause of stillbirth).RP occurs when the calf’s side of the placenta (the foetal membranes) fails to separate from the mother’s side. Generally, expulsion of fetal membrane occurs within 3-8 hr after calving. Most cows will pass the afterbirth (placenta, cleansing or calf bed) within 6 hours of calving. Some cows take up to 24 hours. If the placenta is retained longer than this, the condition is classified as retained placenta (RP) or retained fetal membranes (RFM). Retention of fetal membranes in cattle can lead to many ill effects on animal that ultimately affect reproductive and productive performance. There are three main types of retained placenta following the vagina delivery: 1) placenta adherence (when there is failed contraction of the myometrium behind the placenta), 2) trapped placenta (a detached placenta trapped behind a closed cervix) and 3) partial accreta (when there is a small area of accreta preventing detachment) (Weeks ,2008). The hormonal processes that lead to normal placental separation are multifactorial and begin before parturition.
The effects of retained afterbirth on individual cows vary from severe symptoms of fever and illness, such as ketosis, to no clinical signs at all, Longer term effects of RP are an increase in time to first service, lower first service conception rate and thus an increase in time to conception (Fourichon et al., 2000; McDougall, 2001). Retained placenta by itself is not a problem; however it may lead to uterine contamination. For example, when the cow lies down, the placenta hangs further out of her body and touches dirty inanimate surroundings loaded with bacteria. When the cow stands and walks, the contaminated tissue is pulled back into the uterus.A cow with RP is 5 to 7 times more likely to have metritis (uterine infection), and her pregnancy rate decreases by approximately 15 percent. Furthermore, cows with RP are more susceptible to suffer from ketosis, displaced abomasums and being culled earlier. |
| Disease Control |
To control cases of retained placenta we need to focus on the control of causative & predisposing factors like abortions, premature calving, calving difficulties, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Milk fever and even sub-clinical calcium deficiency can be associated with an increased risk of RP (Zhang et al., 2002; Melendez et al., 2004) with older cows more at risk of lower blood calcium. Good control of feeding and condition during the dry period and avoiding cows becoming overfat, will also reduce the incidence of retained afterbirth. In recent literature reviews, both Selenium deficiency and reduced serum concentrations of Ca, Mg, Mo and Zn were all associated with a high incidence of RP (Allison and Laven, 2000, Bourne et al., 2007, Bicalho et al., 2014). In both instances, supplementation with the respective deficient mineral can help reduce retention. Although these vitamins and minerals can be supplemented, correct pasture based diet formulation could prevent the need for additional supplementation. For
example, Beeckman et al., (2010) showed that grass clover silage and mixed silage were shown to have significantly more vitamin E than hay, maize or grain. However, in the
study by Bourne et al. (2007), the synthetic form of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) was found to be more effective than the natural form of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). |
| Disease Prevention |
Maintain good calving box and calving assistance hygiene, Avoid over-fat cows at calving, Avoid vitamin E/selenium deficiency in your herd, Producers should also keep cows in adequate shape with a body condition score of 3 to 3.5 at calving, Cows that are either too fat or especially thin cows have a greater incidence of retained placentas, Avoid managemental stress, Avoid infectious diseases by immunization & proper health care, Avoid metabolic diseases by providing proper nutrition during peripartum period. |
| Precautions |
1) It is better to understand the causative & predisposing factors and try to control and prevent the occurrence of Retained Placenta.
2) Regarding the use of herbal plants, understand the type of plant, parts to be used, preparation, storage ,formulation, dosage, mode of use by consulting a professional
before use. |
| Procedure of Use |
Farmer Lakhabhai Becharbhai Khatana cure retention of placenta in cattle by using mixture of "fand" leaves, jaggery, dillseed (Peucedanum graveolens), ash from sesame (Sesamum indicum) stalks, water. He takes 300-400 g leaves of "fand" vine, 50 g dill (Peucedanum graveolens) seeds, 250 g jaggery and 25 g ash obtained by burning sesame (Sesamum indicum) stalks. He then heats all the ingredients in 1 L water and allows the decoction to cool. He finally drenches 2 drench-pipes of this medicine to the animal, which induces it to release the placenta in two to two and half hours. |
| Etiology Causative Agent |
The key element in the pathogenesis of retained placenta in Cattle is a failure of timely breakdown of the cotyledon-caruncle attachment after
delivering the calf. Detachment of the fetal membranes indicates that uterine involution is progressing normally. Involution of the uterus is accompanied by a massive breakdown of collagen and other proteins. Lack of cotyledon proteolysis (collagenolysis) appears to be the underlying cause of RP. If placenta-anchoring systems are not enzymatically degraded, fetal membranes are retained. Risk factors causing retention of placenta are abortion, stillbirth, twinbirths, dystocia, induction of parturition with PGF2 alpha and metabolic disorders, especially milk fever. Placentas may be retained as a result of uterine inertia or abnormal adherence to the uterus. Specific infections such as:
Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, Vibriosis, Listeriosis, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis etc.
also lead to RP. There is a genetic implication and cows which retain their placenta in the presence of a nutritionally balanced diet and giving birth to a calf of normal size and with no complications should not be considered for further breeding since their daughters may tend to retain placenta as well. |
| Global Context |
Retention of placenta Disorder in livestock animals is spread worldwide. The condition is more common in dairy than beef suckler herds and incidence and prevalence of the condition varies markedly. |
| Lesson Implication |
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| Other Medications / Treatments |
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| Limitations of Approaches |
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| Other Community Practices |
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| Practice ID |
DTP0010000001422 |
| Reference |
Bhavnagar-96/11 |
| Annotation ID |
GIAN/GAVL/1427 |
| Reference |
Bhavnagar-96/11 |
| Scout |
HBN |
Honey Bee Network Knowledge & Innovation Database (HBNKIND)