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The prevalence of Mycoplasma canis in the vaginas of breeding bitches

Dariusz Jagódka

Dariusz Jagódka

AURA Veterinary ClinicŁochowo, Poland
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Jagódka, Dariusz
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Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska

Edyta Kaczorek-Łukowska

Department of Microbiology and Clinical ImmunologyOlsztyn, Poland
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Kaczorek-Łukowska, Edyta
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Piotr Andrzej Socha

Piotr Andrzej Socha

Department of Animal Reproduction with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in OlsztynOlsztyn, Poland
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Socha, Piotr Andrzej
  
Sep 23, 2024
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Published Online: Sep 23, 2024
Page range: 347 - 353
Received: Apr 15, 2024
Accepted: Sep 11, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2024-0054
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© 2024 Dariusz Jagódka et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction

How bacterial infections of the reproductive tract cause infertility and the correlation between the health status of female dogs and the presence of Mycoplasma canis (M. canis) in the vagina are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the M. canis population in the vagina of breeding bitches and to correlate this microbial population with some fertility outcomes.

Material and Methods

A total of 275 breeding bitches were included in the study. Vaginal samples were collected for microbiological and PCR testing.

Results

Mycoplasma canis was identified in 34.91% of the samples. One-third of bitches from the problem-free group and 41.18% from the group with problems were positive. In general, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of M. canis between the groups (P-value > 0.05). Mycoplasma canis occurs in both mated and unmated bitches and was found in a large number of kennels (67%). There was a correlation between M. canis in the kennel and the incidence of single puppy deaths and low litter sizes. There was also some correlation between the presence of M. canis in the vagina with at least two other bacterial strains and reproductive disorders.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that M. canis is part of the normal vaginal flora of breeding bitches, although a role for this bacterium in causing some reproductive disorders remains to be disproved.
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Virology, Life Sciences, other, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
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