Clinical study of uterine prolapse in Bulgarian Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis L.) and its association with post-parturient serum calcium level and other related risk factors

An observational study was conducted to describe the condition of uterine prolapse in Bulgarian Murrah Buffaloes of the National Water Buffalo Gene Pool of the Philippine Carabao Center, CLSU [Central Luzon State Univesrity], Munoz, Nueva Ecija [Philippines]. The incidence rate of uterine prolapse was determined from the 96 buffaloes that calved during Oct 1999 to Feb 2000. Possible association to parity, body weight of dam, body condition score (BCS), birth weight of calf, peri-parturient serum calcium and phosphorus level, and peri-parturient problems such as dystocia, pre-parturient vaginal prolapse and retained fetal membrane, and history of previous prolapse was determined. Animals were observed one week before calving to one month after calving. Blood was collected before calving, six hours after calving, and immediately after prolapse and was analyzed for serum calcium and phosphorus level. The incidence rate of uterine prolapse within the five-month observational period was 14.58%. The average interval between calving and occurrence of uterine prolapse was 45.82 hours with the highest risk of occurrence within 24 hours. Affected animals showed total eversion of uterus with enlarged, hemorrhagic and edematous caruncles. Severe hemorrhage (21.4%) was seen in animals that suffered from dystocia and trauma after slipping on the floor. The mean temperature of affected animals was normal (38 deg C) and there were increased respiratory (30.57 breaths/min) and pulse (41 beats/min) rates. The mean weights of prolapsing animals before and after calving were 543 plus or minus 80.44 kg and 498 plus or minus 77.21 kg, respectively. While mean calf birth weight was 31.85 plus or minus 8.82 kg. The mean body condition score was 2.57 plus or minus 8.82 kg. The mean body condition score was 2.57 plus or minus 1.08. Among the affected animals, dystocia occurred in 21.42% of the population. Similar frequency of occurrence was seen in cases of retained fetal membrane and pre-parturient vaginal prolapse. The case fatality rate was 14.2%. Logistic regression analysis showed that dam weight, body condition score, serum calcium concentration after-calcing were significantly associated with occurrence of uterine prolapse. Dam weights before calving and after calving and BCS were significantly lower in animals with prolapsed uterus. Serum calcium level after calving was significantly lower in animals with prolapsed uterus than animals without prolapsed uterus (8.91 mg/dl vs. 10.68 mg/dl, P0.05). Dystocia and pre-parturient vaginal prolapse, and history of occurrence of uterine prolapse from previous calving were also found to be associated with the occurrrence of uterine prolapse. The odds ratio of occurrence of uterine prolapse in the presence of the above factors were 22.09, 5.25 and 5.40, respectively. Parity, birth weight of calf, serum calcium level before calving and serum phosphorus level before and after calving were not significantly associated with uterine prolapse