The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study
Microbiological examinations are frequently performed as part of breeding management examinations in the bitch, but also in case of (suspected) reproductive tract problems. As most bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, evaluation of bacterial findings is challenging for veterinarians. Besides, breed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/2/55 |
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| author | Anna Sophia Leps Babette Klein Marianne Schneider Cornelia Meyer Alexandra Šoba Christine Simon Viktor Dyachenko Ute Siesenop Jutta Verspohl Sandra Goericke-Pesch |
| author_facet | Anna Sophia Leps Babette Klein Marianne Schneider Cornelia Meyer Alexandra Šoba Christine Simon Viktor Dyachenko Ute Siesenop Jutta Verspohl Sandra Goericke-Pesch |
| author_sort | Anna Sophia Leps |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microbiological examinations are frequently performed as part of breeding management examinations in the bitch, but also in case of (suspected) reproductive tract problems. As most bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, evaluation of bacterial findings is challenging for veterinarians. Besides, breeders might request antimicrobial treatment in breeding bitches, fearing conception failure—even without medical indication. Considering the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, gaining deeper insights into the bacterial findings from the vagina of healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches might contribute to the knowledge of the canine aerobic vaginal flora and consequently improve the responsible use of antibiotics. We analyzed results from bacteriological cultures of 23,254 vaginal swabs sent in to three commercial laboratories in Germany between 2015 and 2021, where standard aerobic microbiological examination was carried out. We found a variety of 319 bacterial species that mostly grew in mixed cultures of two or more bacterial species. Commonly found species were <i>Escherichia coli</i>, beta-hemolytic Streptococci, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Pasteurellales, and aerobic sporulators, as well as other <i>Streptococcus</i> spp. Our results showed a large diversity of the canine vaginal flora in healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches. They largely support earlier findings of small studies on the physiological canine vaginal flora, emphasizing that solely the results of a bacterial evaluation should not be the base for antimicrobial treatment. Instead, bacterial findings should be evaluated with the results of a clinical gynecological examination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:10:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53b0a82a2a6c4a9bb7e3acda1e732c43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:10:59Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-53b0a82a2a6c4a9bb7e3acda1e732c432024-02-23T15:37:14ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-01-011125510.3390/vetsci11020055The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective StudyAnna Sophia Leps0Babette Klein1Marianne Schneider2Cornelia Meyer3Alexandra Šoba4Christine Simon5Viktor Dyachenko6Ute Siesenop7Jutta Verspohl8Sandra Goericke-Pesch9Unit for Reproductive Medicine—Clinic for Small Animals, University for Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 15, 30559 Hannover, GermanyLaboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, GermanyLaboklin GmbH & Co. KG, 97688 Bad Kissingen, GermanySYNLAB Vet, an Antech Company, 86156 Augsburg, GermanySYNLAB Vet, an Antech Company, 86156 Augsburg, GermanyBiocontrol, Biosciencia Healthcare GmbH, 55218 Ingelheim, GermanyBiocontrol, Biosciencia Healthcare GmbH, 55218 Ingelheim, GermanyInstitute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, GermanyInstitute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, GermanyUnit for Reproductive Medicine—Clinic for Small Animals, University for Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 15, 30559 Hannover, GermanyMicrobiological examinations are frequently performed as part of breeding management examinations in the bitch, but also in case of (suspected) reproductive tract problems. As most bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, evaluation of bacterial findings is challenging for veterinarians. Besides, breeders might request antimicrobial treatment in breeding bitches, fearing conception failure—even without medical indication. Considering the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, gaining deeper insights into the bacterial findings from the vagina of healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches might contribute to the knowledge of the canine aerobic vaginal flora and consequently improve the responsible use of antibiotics. We analyzed results from bacteriological cultures of 23,254 vaginal swabs sent in to three commercial laboratories in Germany between 2015 and 2021, where standard aerobic microbiological examination was carried out. We found a variety of 319 bacterial species that mostly grew in mixed cultures of two or more bacterial species. Commonly found species were <i>Escherichia coli</i>, beta-hemolytic Streptococci, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Pasteurellales, and aerobic sporulators, as well as other <i>Streptococcus</i> spp. Our results showed a large diversity of the canine vaginal flora in healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches. They largely support earlier findings of small studies on the physiological canine vaginal flora, emphasizing that solely the results of a bacterial evaluation should not be the base for antimicrobial treatment. Instead, bacterial findings should be evaluated with the results of a clinical gynecological examination.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/2/55vaginal florabitchbreeding management |
| spellingShingle | Anna Sophia Leps Babette Klein Marianne Schneider Cornelia Meyer Alexandra Šoba Christine Simon Viktor Dyachenko Ute Siesenop Jutta Verspohl Sandra Goericke-Pesch The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study Veterinary Sciences vaginal flora bitch breeding management |
| title | The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study |
| title_full | The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study |
| title_fullStr | The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study |
| title_short | The Canine Vaginal Flora: A Large-Cohort Retrospective Study |
| title_sort | canine vaginal flora a large cohort retrospective study |
| topic | vaginal flora bitch breeding management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/2/55 |
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