Abstract
The research was conducted on 19 stud farms in Serbia, on 80 mares used for breeding, with and without reproductive disorders. During the two years period (from 2009 to 2010) double guarded uterine swabs from 80 mares, aged between 3 and 22 years were collected. Mares belonged to the different breeds: Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Lipizzaner and mixed breeds. It was determined, that bacterial infection of genital organs was found in 24 mares in the examined population, and the bacterial species Streptococcus zooepidemicus was diagnosed in the 11 samples from cervical swabs. In the 5 samples, Escherichia coli was isolated, while Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pasteurella multocida were present in the 2 samples each, while the other causes and simultaneous isolation of two bacterial species are much less present. These species are: Bacillus spp. plus Escherichia coli; Streptococcus zooepidemicus plus Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli plus Streptococcus zooepidemicus. In one swab we determinated Arcanobacter pyogenes. In this examination, according to available data after natural mating, we found conception level of 43,10%, which is similar with previous reports in our country.
Highlights
The ability to maintain a uterine environment compatible with embryonic and fetal life is essential for reproductive efficiency in equids
The purpose of the present study was to provide an update on bacterial isolates in uteri of mares with and without fertility problems in 19 Stud farms in Serbia
There was not possible to make this special diagnostic approach on all animals in our investigation. From these 7 mares with clinical signs, in 4 mares we found positive bacteriological sample: two mares with ovarian cyst, one with anatomical constriction of the vagina (Streptococcus zooepidemicus) and by one mare with purulent discharge from vagina it was determinated Escherichia coli in uterine swab
Summary
The ability to maintain a uterine environment compatible with embryonic and fetal life is essential for reproductive efficiency in equids. The uterine environment is disturbed by an inflammatory process following bacterial invasion, which can occur during breeding, genital examination, and parturition (Asbury and Lyle, 1993). Bacterial uterine infections inflict major losses on the equine breeding industry, occurring in 25–60% of barren mares. Organisms isolated include the commensals Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Escherichia coli, the more pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae, especially capsule types 1, 2 and 5, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Shin et al, 1979) and Taylorella equigenitalis (Timoney, 1996). The bacteria become established and uterine infection develops in which the sources of uterine contamination include coitus, parturition, and reproductive examination (Card, 1997)
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