Pregnancy and peripartum period are characterised by transient changes in the
maternal immune system, noticeable at the peripheral level. The aim of the study was to
determinate the effect of placental retention and metritis on peripheral white blood cells in 91
pregnant dairy cows from day 200 of pregnancy to 30 postpartum. Blood samples were
automatically analysed with HemaVet® Multispecies Haematology system and total and
differential leukocyte counts were recorded. Data was statistically analysed using GLM
repeated measures ANOVA to test the effect of reproductive disorders on peripheral white
blood cells. Cows with placental retention had significantly lower leukocyte, neutrophil and
lymphocyte counts (P<0.05), and cows with metritis had lower neutrophil and eosinophil
counts (P<0.01) than cows not suffering reproductive disorders during the peripartum period.
Day of pregnancy and parturition also affected peripheral lymphocyte and monocyte counts
(P<0.01). Maternal immune dysfunction during the peripartum period may predispose to
reproductive disorders postpartu
