The Effects of Flunixin Meglumine and Meloxicam on the Mucosal Immunity of the Uterus in Postpartum Cattle

Rahmati, Ali; Khosravi, Mohammad; Gooraninejad, Saad; Makki, Meaysam; Noori, Mohammad

doi:10.22092/ari.2025.368986.3594

The Effects of Flunixin Meglumine and Meloxicam on the Mucosal Immunity of the Uterus in Postpartum Cattle

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

² Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

10.22092/ari.2025.368986.3594

Abstract

During the transition period, dairy cows experience significant inflammatory immune responses that can act as erosive agents to the uterus. The immune response modulation and reducing the negative effects of systemic inflammation after parturition, may be achaived by postpartum administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of flunixin meglumine and meloxicam on local humoral immunity in the uterus of postpartum cows.
The study involved 60 cows that had experienced their second to fourth parturition, which were randomly divided into three groups. Treatment groups one and two received intravenous (IV) flunixin meglumine and meloxicam, respectively, on the 3rd and 8th days following delivery. The third group, serving as the control, received an IV injection of sterilized normal saline. Cervical mucus samples were collected on the 4th, 9th, and 15th days post-delivery from the treated animals. The uterine mucosal antibody titers against two primary pathogens, T. pyogenes and E. coli, were evaluated using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, serum antibacterial activity against these bacteria was assessed using the microdilution method.
The antibacterial activity and mucosal antibody value against E. coli revealed no statistically significant differences among the analyzed groups. The specific mucosal antibody titers against T. pyogenes elevated during study period in the control and flunixin groups. The mucosal antibody titers against T. pyogenes demonstrated significant differences between the meloxicam and flunixin groups on days 4 and 9. In conclusion, these data suggest no adverse effects of the treatments on the mucosal immunity of the uterus and differing effects of NSAID treatment on antibody titers against various pathogens. These differences may be attributed to the induction of immune responses against target pathogens and variations in bacterial concentration in the environment. Veterinarians should consider farm management practices when administering flunixin and meloxicam.

Keywords