Evaluating differences in uterine microbiome and inflammatory status at 1 month postpartum associated with metritis and antibiotic treatment

The effects of antibiotic (ceftiofur) treatment of cows with metritis on uterine microbiome and inflammatory status at one month postpartum were evaluated. The number of cultured and sequenced bacteria from the uterus at one month postpartum was decreased by ceftiofur treatment. Based on a multinomial regression performed on the 16S rRNA sequencing data, the uterine microbiota at one month postpartum was collectively influenced by the uterine content appearance (indicative of infection), initial diagnosis of metritis, antibiotic treatment, and estrus cyclicity at slaughter. This analysis revealed that ceftiofur treatment profoundly reduced the abundance of <i>Fusobacterium</i> in treated cows, restoring the microbiota of cows with metritis toward that of healthy cows.<br>