OBJECTIVE Abortion and neonatal mortality are relatively common in dogs and cats and they are linked to several causative factors [1]. Mycoplasma spp. have been involved in canine and feline infertility, although existing studies are limited and somewhat contradictory [2, 3, 4]. Intrauterine inoculation of Mycoplasma spp. had previously been associated to endometritis, abortion, and neonatal mortality in cat [3]. Conversely, several Mycoplasma spp. have been isolated in vaginal swabs of healthy bitch [2]. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively detect Mycoplasma DNA in a caseload of canine and feline abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens from 122 cases (114 dogs and 8 cats) of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality were investigated to detect Mycoplasma DNA by PCR. RESULTS Eight out of 122 cases (6.6%, all dogs) tested positive for Mycoplasma DNA. From five of them (62.5%), other microorganisms were identified, particularly Canine herpesvirus-1 (2/8, 25%) and Escherichia coli and/or Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (3/8, 37.5%), notoriously responsible for infertility in the bitch. In two different litters, only one puppy of each was positive to Mycoplasma DNA. Moreover, Mycoplasma DNA was identified from vaginal swab and foetal membranes collected during caesarean section of a bitch whelping Mycoplasma-negative puppies, further supporting that Mycoplasma spp. is part of the normal microflora of the female genital tract. No positive case was observed in feline samples, even if a very limited number of cases were collected. CONCLUSION Mycoplasma DNA was seldom detected from cases of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in dogs. The detection of Mycoplasma DNA in association with other main pathogens and its detection from the female genital tract in the absence of transmission to puppies support the hypothesis that Mycoplasma is an autochthonous genital microflora or can play a secondary role in the canine infertility.
Detection of Mycoplasma DNA in 122 cases of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in dogs and cats
Chierchia Filomena;Rampacci Elisa;Stefanetti Valentina;Sylla Lakamy;Marenzoni Maria Luisa
2019
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Abortion and neonatal mortality are relatively common in dogs and cats and they are linked to several causative factors [1]. Mycoplasma spp. have been involved in canine and feline infertility, although existing studies are limited and somewhat contradictory [2, 3, 4]. Intrauterine inoculation of Mycoplasma spp. had previously been associated to endometritis, abortion, and neonatal mortality in cat [3]. Conversely, several Mycoplasma spp. have been isolated in vaginal swabs of healthy bitch [2]. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively detect Mycoplasma DNA in a caseload of canine and feline abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens from 122 cases (114 dogs and 8 cats) of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality were investigated to detect Mycoplasma DNA by PCR. RESULTS Eight out of 122 cases (6.6%, all dogs) tested positive for Mycoplasma DNA. From five of them (62.5%), other microorganisms were identified, particularly Canine herpesvirus-1 (2/8, 25%) and Escherichia coli and/or Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (3/8, 37.5%), notoriously responsible for infertility in the bitch. In two different litters, only one puppy of each was positive to Mycoplasma DNA. Moreover, Mycoplasma DNA was identified from vaginal swab and foetal membranes collected during caesarean section of a bitch whelping Mycoplasma-negative puppies, further supporting that Mycoplasma spp. is part of the normal microflora of the female genital tract. No positive case was observed in feline samples, even if a very limited number of cases were collected. CONCLUSION Mycoplasma DNA was seldom detected from cases of abortion, stillbirth and neonatal mortality in dogs. The detection of Mycoplasma DNA in association with other main pathogens and its detection from the female genital tract in the absence of transmission to puppies support the hypothesis that Mycoplasma is an autochthonous genital microflora or can play a secondary role in the canine infertility.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
