Abstract
Postpartum disorders are a real threat on the animal husbandry, usually result in high mortalities and low fertility rates. So, this research aimed to investigate the most important clinicopathological alterations in the normal postpartum stage and some postpartum disorders in barki ewes and evaluate the importance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as biomarkers for postpartum disorders in barki sheep. For this purpose, 80 barki ewes were used for this study, 20 apparently healthy non-pregnant ewes (control group), 20 had a normal postpartum stage, 20 had inflammatory postpartum conditions and 20 had non-inflammatory postpartum conditions. Blood samples were collected from the control group and from other ewes (before and after parturition). The results of this work cleared that the postpartum stage as well as postpartum disorders associated with a significant (P<0.05) normocytic hypochromic anemia, neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, decreased minerals, electrolytes, trace elements and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations, increased liver enzymatic activities (AST, ALT, ALP) and renal function tests (blood urea, creatinine). While, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) significantly (P<0.05) increased in both normal postpartum stage and inflammatory postpartum disorders (endometritis and mastitis) at the pre and postpartum stage. However, they significantly (P<0.05) decreased in non-inflammatory postpartum disorders (before and after parturition). Conclusion: The awareness with the clinicopathological changes in the postpartum period and the postpartum disorders is helpful in reducing the postpartum disorders incidence and improving our treatment and prophylactic programs against them. MMP-2 and MMP-9 estimation before and after parturition may be valuable in prediction of some postpartum disorders.

Key words: Ovine postpartum period, postpartum disorders, clinicopathological changes, matrix metalloproteinases.