Abstract #W23
Section: Animal Health (posters)
Session: Animal Health Posters 3
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Wednesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall A
Session: Animal Health Posters 3
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Wednesday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall A
# W23
Effect of acupuncture therapy in dairy cows affected by pyometra: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
P. Pinedo*1, L. Caixeta2,3, E. Barrell2,3, J. Herman2, J. Velez4, D. Manriquez1, T. Holt2, 1Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 3Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 4Aurora Organic Dairy, Platteville, CO.
Key Words: acupuncture, pyometra, corpus luteum
Effect of acupuncture therapy in dairy cows affected by pyometra: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
P. Pinedo*1, L. Caixeta2,3, E. Barrell2,3, J. Herman2, J. Velez4, D. Manriquez1, T. Holt2, 1Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 3Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 4Aurora Organic Dairy, Platteville, CO.
Pyometra (PYO) is a uterine disease characterized by the accumulation of purulent or mucopurulent material within the uterine lumen in the presence of an active corpus luteum (CL). Due to prohibited use of artificial hormones in US certified organic dairies, conventional therapies for treatment of PYI are not applicable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 acupuncture procedures on the treatment of persistent CL in cows with PYO. We hypothesized that acupuncture would reduce CL diameter and serum progesterone (P4) concentrations resolving the PYO. Holstein cows with PYO, at a USDA certified organic dairy farm in Northern Colorado were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial and assigned into 1 of 3 treatments: (1) control pyometra (CP; no treatment; n = 17); (2) electroacupuncture (EAP; n = 15); and (3) laser acupuncture (LAP; n = 15). Each cow received 3 20-min acupuncture sessions on alternate days. Cows had blood samples collected for determination of serum progesterone concentration at enrolment (−3 d) and at d 0, d 2, d 4, d 11, d 18, and d2 5 after first treatment. CL diameter was determined by transrectal ultrasonography at −3 d, d 0, d 2, d 4, d 11, and d 18. Logistic regression was used for the analysis of binary outcome variables, whereas continuous variables were evaluated by ANOVA and by repeated measures analyses, accounting for baseline data (CL diameter and serum P4 concentration). Average ± SE for CL diameter change from d0 to d18 were 1.0 ± 1.0 mm, 0 ± 1.0 mm, and −0.33 ± 1.0 mm for CP, EAP, and LAP, respectively. None of the cows had serum P4 values <1 ng/mL by the end of the monitoring period and average ± SE P4 concentration change from d 0 to d 25 were −4.2 ± ng/mL, −0.7 ± ng/mL, and 4.5 ± ng/mL for CP, EAP, and LAP, respectively. The repeated measures analysis indicated no differences in time for CL diameter or serum P4 concentrations among groups. Two cows in EAP and 1 cow in LAP conceived 38 d, 68 d, and 38 d, after treatment completion. In conclusion, acupuncture was not an effective treatment for persistent CL in cows with PYO during the monitoring period.
Key Words: acupuncture, pyometra, corpus luteum
