Severe Reproductive Disorders After Abdominal Fat Necrosis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Abdominal fat necrosis is a dystrophic–necrotic process that is relatively common in dairy cows. It is determined by productive strain (excess fat in the diet), negative energy balance after calving, a lack of physical activity, vitamin E and selenium deficiency, etc. Lipomatous masses are predominantly located in the omentum and mesentery in cattle, potentially causing intestinal obstruction. We report on an outbreak of abdominal fat necrosis that affected 135 of 220 cows and heifers (61.36%); this involved massive fat accumulation in the uterine and salpingian ligaments and severe reproductive disorders (reducing fertility to 20% in cows and 10% in heifers) caused by a hyperenergetic diet (supplementation with saturated fats). A transrectal ultrasound examination of the genital apparatus—both in heifers and in cows in the puerperium—revealed a diffuse pathological hyperechogenicity of the cervical folds, suggesting lipid infiltration, proliferation of the endocervical folds and hyperechogenic lipogranulomas located paracervically or in the uterine ligaments. An ultrasound examination of the ovaries showed the presence of parasalpingial lipogranulomas on the mesovarium, with a uniformly pixelated greasy appearance, that altered the topography of the salpinx, leading to the impossibility of oocyte retrieval. At the histopathological examination, in addition to the necrosis of adipocytes and the subacute–chronic inflammation of the abdominal and retroperitoneal adipose tissue, lipid infiltration of the uterine walls was also observed in the uterine ligaments and lymph nodes. Additionally, lipid infiltration was observed in the wall of the uterine artery. All muscular-type branches of the ovarian artery exhibited subendothelial (subintimal) amyloid deposits, severely reducing their lumen and leading to ischaemia. Amyloidosis was secondary to the systemic inflammatory process triggered by lipid deposition and necrosis. Fertility returned to normal 45–60 days after the exclusion of fat supplements from the diet and their replacement with a vitamin–mineral supplement rich in antioxidants.