Abstract:
Ovarian cyst is one of the major causes of reproductive failure and economic loss in the dairy
industry. The objectives of this paper were to give general overview about cystic ovarian disease and its
economic impact in dairy cattle. By rectal palpation, ovarian cysts are characterized as structures greater than
minimum diameter of 17mm persisting for more than 6 days. Major categories of cysts include follicular cysts,
luteinized follicular cysts and cystic corpora lutea. Follicular cysts result from failure of ovulation and
luteinization. Luteinized cysts apparently fail to ovulate, but some luteinization occurs. Because of the varying
degree of luteinization, luteinized cysts are firmer to touch than follicular cysts though not as solid as corpus
luteum. Cystic corpora lutea are corpus luteum with a fluid filled center. Various risk factors related to
development of ovarian cysts in individual cows have been identified, although the actual cause of cystic
ovarian disease is unknown. The basic pathophysiology of cystic ovarian disease involves a neuroendocrine
dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis resulting in ovulation failure. An abnormal pattern of
estrous behavior is the most noticeable sign of cystic ovarian disease. A cow with an ovarian cyst might exhibit
“constant” estrus (nymphomania), no estrus (anestrus) or anerratic combination of estrus and anestrus.
Accurate diagnosis currently employs a combination of transrectal palpation, transrectal ultrasonography and
plasma progesterone assay. During earlier times, the manual rupture of ovarian cysts was advocated, yet during
the past several years single or combinations human chorionic Gonadotrophin, Gonadotrophin releasing
hormone, progesterone and prostaglandins have been frequent in clinical practice. The success of therapy is
governed by many confounding variables such as persistence of the cystic follicles and initiation of therapy
as pathological alterations that occur following ovarian cysts persistence require some time for spontaneous
recovery. Generally all of these risk factors should be thoroughly considered and based on the knowledge of
their existence, measures should be taken to prevent increased incidence of ovarian cysts COD.
