Prevalence of bovine endometritis, virulence mechanisms of Escherichia coli, and current therapeutic strategies: A review.

TL;DR

A systematic review and meta-analysis examining E. coli prevalence in bovine postpartum endometritis, detailing its virulence mechanisms (adhesins, toxins, LPS, capsule, siderophores, biofilms) and evaluating current therapeutic strategies for improved clinical management.

Key findings

• E. coli is a priority pathogen in dairy cow endometritis due to early colonization, frequent detection, and strong inflammatory effects
• Virulence depends on multiple factors: adhesins, toxins, lipopolysaccharides, capsule antigens, siderophores, and biofilm formation that collectively drive colonization and tissue damage
• Endometritis prevalence is influenced by geographic, management, environmental, diagnostic, and socio-economic factors
• Current therapeutic strategies have limited clinical validation; novel approaches warrant further investigation for precision prevention and control

Why this matters at the bedside

Directly relevant to dairy practitioners managing postpartum endometritis; integrates epidemiological patterns with pathogenic mechanisms to inform evidence-based treatment selection and prevention strategies.