~ 66 ~ International Journal of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry 2023; 8(3): 66-71 ISSN: 2456-2912 VET 2023; 8(3): 66-71 © 2023 VET www.veterinarypaper.com Received: 01-02-2023 Accepted: 06-03-2023 Nakul Gulia Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Amarjeet Bisla Scientist, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Mrigank Honparkhe Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Corresponding Author: Amarjeet Bisla Scientist, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India A review of applications and scope of intrauterine proteolytic enzymes therapy for treatment of uterine infections in dairy animals Nakul Gulia, Amarjeet Bisla and Mrigank Honparkhe DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/veterinary.2023.v8.i3b.521 Abstract The target of one calf crop per year in dairy cattle and in 13-14 months in dairy buffaloes could be achieved only when an animal normally calves, completes uterine involution timely with initiation of post-partum ovarian activity. But, the postpartum uterine infections pose a great hurdle in the achievement of this target due to the economic losses owe to cost of treatment, disturbed calving to conception period and therefore the prolonged inter-calving interval. Various types of antimicrobials are used for the treatment of uterine infections in dairy animals which results in its withdrawal in milk and ultimately leading to arising of antimicrobial resistance in dairy animals as well as in human beings the ultimate consumers of dairy products. Therefore, research is on-going throughout the world to have alternative therapies to antimicrobials with aim to reduce the veterinarian cost as well as antimicrobial resistance. Many alternative therapies like immune-modulators, metritis vaccines, bacteriophage therapy, ozone therapy, interleukins etc. have been tried with variable success throughout the world. Intrauterine proteolytic enzymes therapy is one of the alternative therapies that our lab is mainly focussing for prevention and therapeutics of the various grades of uterine infections. This review shall focus on mechanism of action of proteolytic enzymes, their efficacy for prevention and therapeutics of uterine infections of different grades as well as the future perspectives related to this therapy. Keywords: Dairy animals, uterine infections, alternative therapies, proteolytic enzymes, trypsin 1. Introduction The economics of the dairy enterprises could be maintained by the production of regular calf crops per year in dairy cattle and in 13-14 months in dairy buffaloes so that maximum genetic potential in terms of future generation can be exploited. The most important factor responsible for the regular calf crops is the healthy postpartum uterus and puerperium period. The puerperium period includes the calving interval to complete uterine involution (Return to its normal size and position), endometrial regeneration, resumption of ovarian activity (ovarian rebound) and maintenance of healthy uterus without infections (Usually during the first 6 weeks postpartum) [31, 43] . Therefore, a healthy peripartum period which includes the timely uterine involution and ovarian rebound decides the future fertility of the postpartum animal [12] . Any disturbances during this peripartum period are likely to reduce the lifetime reproductive and productive efficiency by prolonging the calvig to conception and thereby, inter-calving interval. The occurrence of uterine infections is a major limiting factor in the occurrence of normal puerperium in dairy animals even in normal calving while, the incidence and the severity of uterine infections are aggravated in conditions like dystocia, premature birth, abortions, hydropsy of fetal membranes, induced calving, twinning etc. [46, 47, 48, 13, 14, 26] . It has been observed that even in normal parturition 80-100% of cows will have bacterial contamination within the uterus. This bacterial load is usually eliminated during puerperium period but still 25-40% metritis, 20% endometritis and 25-40% subclinical endometritis cases were being reported [44] . Galvao et al. [19] reported a prevalence of 5 to >30% and 11 to >70% for clinical and sub-clinical endometritis after parturition, respectively. The therapeutic management of different uterine infections is done by using various types of antimicrobial preparations via parentral as well as intrauterine route.