Bacteriological study of genital infections of thourough bred mares

Abstract

In this paper it is presented the results of bacteriological examination of swabs obtained from the “os uteris” or from the uterus of thorough bred mares, distributed in various race-horse farms of the State of São Paulo —Brazil. The samples were classified according to the origin from infected mares (“infected group”) and from non infected, healthy (non treated) and cured mares (“control group”). From the “infected group” we get 194 samples which, on test, gave the following results: Streptococcus zooepicdemicus - 46,9%; Staphylococcus aureus (albus tvpe) - 12,8%; Escherichia coli — 11.8%; coliforms - 14,9%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - 8,2%; Corynebacterium pyogenes - 0,5% and Proteus vulgaris - 0,5%. Eight mares treated for a long period of time with antibiotics gave pure cultures of yeasts (superinfections). Many non pathogenic bacteria were also found on cultures, associated with pathogens. From the non infected group we obtained 163 samples with the following resultts: coagulase negative staphylococcus — 8,5% sporulated aerobic bacilli of the cereus — subtilis group — 6,1 %; “viridans” streptococci — 4,9% and diphteroids — 2,4%. From the 163 samples, 124 (76,0%) gave no growth at all. The germs found by the A. A. and isolated from the infected group were considered as the etiological agents of the genital infections because they lack in the samples obtained from animals treated or non treated but considered healthy. Among them, St. zooepidemicus were the most frequently found, and seems to be the main cause of infection. The A- A. pointed out that this pathogen produces a cystic-mucous-endometritis which constitutes a serious barrier for treatment. Since these infections reveal a multiple etiology, the bacteriologycal tests on infected mares seems to be very important. Moreover, this practice will enable the practionners to discriminate between superinfections related to fungi and infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. All the bacteria found in the genital infections observed, have their habitat, normally, in livestocks environment. The A. A. think that they establish themselves in the genital tract through some conditions like: direct contact by means of coitus with infected stallions; indirect contact by means of contaminated specula; and in consequence of anatomical defects which give the conditions named uro-vagin and pneumo-vagin.