Abstract
A retrospective survey was performed of aerobic bacterial species found in the vagina of 203 bitches with genital disorders, e.g. infertility, vaginitis, pyometra and puppy death. Escherichia coli, beta-hemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus intermedius and Pasteurella multocida were the species most often isolated. From bitches with pyometra E. coli in pure culture was the most frequent isolate. In contrast, the majority of infertile bitches gave rise to mixed cultures, and no specific bacterial species was consistently associated with infertility. Thus, bacterial sampling from infertile bitches was concluded to be of low diagnostic value. Bacterial species isolated from the bitches having vaginitis were present in pure culture in 26.9% of the samples while nonspecific mixed cultures were obtained from 34.6% of the samples from these bitches. E. coli was the most frequently isolated bacterial species from bitches with dead puppies. However, in such cases it is important to relate the vaginal bacterial findings to autopsy findings and the results of bacteriological cultures of the pups.
Keywords: dog
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.2 MB).
References
- Allen WE, Dagnall GJR. Some observations on the aerobic bacterial flora of the genital tract of the dog and bitch. J. small Anim. Pract. 1982;23:325–335. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1982.tb01674.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- Baba E, Hata H, Fukata T, Arakowa A. Vaginal and uterine microflora of adult dogs. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1983;44:606–609. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bjurström L, Linde-Forsberg C. A long-term study of aerobic bacteria of the genital tract in breeding bitches. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1992;53:665–669. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Blunden AS. Isolation of Clostridium perfringens from the canine genital tract. Vet. Rec. 1983;113:133. doi: 10.1136/vr.113.6.133-a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bruchim A, Lutsky I. Isolation of mycoplasma from the canine genital tract: a survey of 108 healthy dogs. Res. vet. Sci. 1978;25:243–245. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)32988-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Bulgin MS, Ward ACS, Sriranganathan N, Saras P. Abortion in the dog due to Campylobacter species. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1984;45:555–556. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Burke TJ. Causes of infertility. In: Burke TJ, editor. Small Animal Reproduction and Infertility. A Clinical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1986. pp. 227–297. [Google Scholar]
- Doig PA, Ruhnke HL, Bosu WTK. The genital Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma flora of healthy and diseased dogs. Can. J. comp. Med. 1981;45:233–238. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Farstad W. Bakteriologiske funn i kjönnsveiene hos tis-per med reproduktionsforstyrrelser. (Bacterial findings in the genital tract of bitches with reproductive disorders) Nord. Vet.-Med. 1982;34:451–456. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Farstad W. Perinatal valpdödlighet hos hund II: Frekvens og patoanatomiske funn. (Perinatal puppy death in the dog II. Mortality rate and pathoanatomical findings.) Norsk. Vet. Tidsskr. 1983;95:567–572. [Google Scholar]
- Gentilini ER, Denamiel GA. Mesophilic vaginal flora of bitches. I. Bacteriological findings. Gac. Vet. (B. Aires) 1983;353:910–913. [Google Scholar]
- Grindlay M, Renton JP, Ramsay DH. O-groups of Escherichia coli associated with canine pyome-tra. Res. vet. Sci. 1973;14:15–11. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)33941-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hirsh DC, Wiger N. The bacterial flora of normal canine vagina compared with that of vaginal exudates. J. Small Anim. Pract. 1977;18:25–30. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1977.tb05820.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holt JG. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co.; 1984. p. 1599. [Google Scholar]
- Linde C. Sv. Vet.-Förb. 1978. Genitala infektioner hos hund. (Genital infections in the dog). Kompendium till allmänt veterinärmöte; pp. 38–46. [Google Scholar]
- Linde C. Partial abortion associated with genital Escherichia coli infection in a bitch. Vet. Rec. 1983;112:454–455. doi: 10.1136/vr.112.19.454. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Ling GV, Ruby AL. Aerobic bacterial flora of the prepuce, urethra, and vagina of normal adult dogs. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1978;39:695–698. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Okkens AC, Gunnink JW, Vogel F, Van der Wey den GC. Vaginitis bij de teef. (Vaginitis in the bitch) Tijdschr. Diergeneesk. 1977;102:1034–1038. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Osbaldiston GW. Vaginitis in a bitch associated with Haemophilus sp. Amer. J. vet. Res. 1971;42:2067–2069. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Osbaldiston GW, Nuru S, Mosier JE. Vaginal cytology and microflora of infertile bitches. J. Amer. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 1972;8:93–101. [Google Scholar]
- Osbaldiston GW. Bacteriological studies of reproductive disorders of bitches. J. Amer. Anim. Hosp. Assoc. 1978;14:363–367. [Google Scholar]
- Piatt AM, Simpson RB. Bacterial flora of the canine vagina. Southwest. Vet. 1974;27:76–77. [Google Scholar]
- Sandholm M, Vasenius H, Kivistö AK. Pathogenesis of canine pyometra. J. Amer. vet. med. Assoc. 1975;167:1006–1010. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Skaar I. Bakteriologiska undersökelser av kjönnsvei hos tispe. (Bacteriological examinations of the reproductive tract of bitches) Norsk. Vet. Tidsskr. 1989;101:849–853. [Google Scholar]
- Stockner PK, Brudvik AM, Baker D. Canine vaginal flora: A technique for sampling and clinical observation. Can. practit. 1979;6:18–22. [Google Scholar]
- Suter M. Peri- und postnatale todesursachen beim hund. (Peri and post natal causes of death in dogs) 1977. [Google Scholar]