PAS_1 |
Artemisia elegamtissima Pamp, Cannabis Sativa L., Curcuma domestica
Vallars, Ficus religiosa L.,Ficus semicordata Buch-Ham ex Sm.,Glycine max (L.)
Merr.,Gossypium sp.,Oryza sativa (L.),Parthenocissus semicordata (Wall)
Planch,Saccharum officinarum Steud. ,Saccharum sp.,Trachyspermum ammi(L.)
Sprague,Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper,Zingiber officinale Rosc. are used for treatment of
retention of placenta in Uttaranchal, Himalaya |
PAS_2 |
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Agro Ecological Zone |
Agro-Ecological Sub Region (ICAR) Western Ghat and coastal plain hot humid (6.2),
Agro-Climatic Region (Planning Commission) Western plateau and hills region (IX),
Agro Climatic Zone (NARP) Western Ghat Zone - ZARS, Igatpuri, Dist. Nashik
Western Maharashtra Scarcity Zone (MH-6),- ZARS, Solapur
Sub Montane Zone – ZARS, Kolhapur
Plain Zone – ZARS, Ganeshkhind, Pune |
Disease Symptoms / Clinical Signs |
The prominent sign associated with RP is degenerating, discoloured, ultimately foetid 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 |
There are no standard preventative regimes for RP. Good dry cow management is the best way of preventing RP and reducing its effects. This will include supply of correct nutrients, particularly magnesium, and fat soluble vitamins, maximising dry matter intake, maintaining the correct body condition score and supplying a clean dry nvironment.
All of the following points should be included in the farm’s herd health plan: 1) Maintain good calving box and calving assistance hygiene.2) Record carefully all the calvings
resulting to retained placenta,noting details about the cow’s other symptoms or problems.3) Assess the situation after each calving season and decide whether there is a
need for improvement (less than 10% of the calvings should result in retained placenta) 4) Avoid over-fat cows at calving (condition score 2.5-3 at drying off and at calving).5)
Control milk fever.If older cows have a history of previous milk fever, consider giving supplementary calcium at calving to avoid sub-clinical hypocalcemia or adjust the feeding pre-calving.6) Avoid vitamin E/selenium deficiency in your herd. Vitamin A and mineral deficiencies impair immunity.Vitamin E (DL tocoferol acetate 1100 IU) and Se
(Sodium Selnite 30 mg)by single I/M injection 3 weeks prepartum is used as prophylactic dose.(Gupta et al 2005) and also maintenance of Ca:P ratio as 1.5 : 1.0 and phosphorus
supplementation. Nutritionally several key components have been identified. Adequate vitamin A levels (20,000-30,000 I.U./cow/daily), Se (selenium) five mg/cow/day and
adequate calcium and phosphorus balances have all been shown to improve dropping of fetal membranes.7) 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.8) Avoid managemental stress. 9) Avoid infectious diseases by immunization & proper health care. 10) 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 Jashubhai Dhulabhai Parmar cure the disease in animal by using leaves of bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) and creeping cynodon (Cynodon dactylon). To induce the animal to release the placenta, 3 kg fresh green leaves of bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) and 3 kg fresh creeping cynodon (Cynodon dactylon) vine are fed to animal after parturition. This releases the placenta within 5 to 6 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. Incidence RFMs are a common abnormality in dairy cows, occurring in 5-10% of normal calvings. It is regarded as a major cause of reproductive disorders in the puerperal and post puerperal period and may lead to significant economic losses at the herd level. The incidence rate of retention of fetal membranes in buffaloes was 22.8 per cent and in dairy cows was 19.44 percent. |
Lesson Implication |
In a study conducted in The Netherlands with 160,000 calvings, the relative economic impact expressed in percentage was identified in four main areas: decreased milk production (40%), increased veterinary services (32%), increased culling rate (19%), and increased calving interval (9%). Consequences of retained foetal membranes in cattle such as Delayed placental separation predisposes cows to acute puerperium metritis and endometritis post partum through: increased bacterial multiplication in the uterus ,impairment of immune function of endometrial macrophages and neutrophiles by bacterial endotoxins.Cows with retained fetal membranes are at increased risk of metritis, displaced abomasum, and mastitis.Cows that have once had retained fetal membranes are at increased risk of recurrence at a subsequent parturition.cows with retained fetal membranes are at increased risk of developing metritis, ketosis, mastitis, and even abortion in a subsequent pregnancy.Due to increased resistance to antibiotics use,we can think of use of herbal medication being safer,economical approach. |
Other Medications / Treatments |
Administration of systemic & intra uterine antibiotics, Administration of Hormonal treatment |
Limitations of Approaches |
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Other Community Practices |
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Practice ID |
DTP0010000003230 |
Reference |
HBN database |
Annotation ID |
GIAN/GAVL/2015 |
Reference |
HBN database |
Scout |
HBN |