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  Discussion on Uterine infection?
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Posted on Monday, Feb 25, 2002 - 9:50 am:

Dr. Oglesby
My mare had a uterine culture in preparation for going to a stud farm. The results came back positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alpha hemolytic Streptoccus, and Staphloccus intermedius. All had "scant growth". An exam and uterine cytology indicated that there was no infection (<3 polys/HPF). My vet said that this was vaginal contamination from passing a culturette through the tight cervix of a mare in diestrus. Nevertheless, the management of the stud farm wants this cleaned up before they will admit my mare. I won't argue with them on this because they are trying to protect several million dollars in mares and studs, and, afterall, it is their farm. My main concern is the Pseudomonas. As I understand, some species can be sexually transmitted. Is P aeruginosa one of these? Also, all cultures are sensitive to ceftiofur, but my vet says he can't find reference for a protocal for using this drug as a uterine infusion. Can you help?

Thanks,
Robert Wayne

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 26, 2002 - 7:10 am:

Hello Robert,
Excellent questions that display how little we know about some of these common problems faced daily in breeding. Pseudomonas a. is a fairly common organism isolated from the reproductive tract of healthy mares and stallions. Pseudomoas a. has also been documented as the cause of serious endometrial and stallion testicular and accessory gland infection. In between these two extremes Pseudomonas a. has been attributed to occult infections resulting in lower fertility.

These are mainly from clinical observations and surveys so the information is incomplete. As you peruse the equine reproductive books, Pseudomonas is universally considered a venereal disease but no references are offered. I can find at least 5 distinct subtypes of Pseudomonas a. isolated from horses and it may well be that the differing behaviors are the result of the different subspecies. You know what they say if you do not know the answer you dazzle them with bull..ummm detail.

Until work suggests otherwise I am sticking with if there is no physical or cytological evidence of inflammation there ain't no infection, with the one notable exception of CEM.

There is one excellent reference of the use of ceftiofur in intrauterine flushes. 1 to 2 grams of cetiofur was dissolved in 10 ml of saline and infused with excellent results with both dosage levels:
Our results show the bactericidal power of ceftiofur when given intrauterinely. It was impressive that pretreatment cultures in Group A were positive in 14 out of 20 (70%) mares and that posttreatment, ceftiofur endometrial cultures turned negative in all mares. In contrast, in Group B, 12 out of 20 mares (60%) were cultured positive, and posttreatment saline endometrial cultures turned negative in 7 of 12 infected mares (58.3%).

The experimental design reveals that ceftiofur is safe and nonirritating to the equine endometrial mucosae when compared with the small irritation that is seen in the endometrium with sterile saline.

Effects of Intrauterine Infusion of Sodium Ceftiofur on the Endometrium of Mares
Victor Bermudez, PhD; Luis Sifontes, DVM; Nicolas Navarro, DVM; Beatriz Quintero, Msc; Jeny Moreno, DVM; and Mauro Burgos, DVM
Cat. Clinics Basica, Dept. Animal Health, FCV–UCV, Maracay El Lim6n, AP-4563, Edo. Aragua, Venezuela, South America.
1995 ~ Vol. 41 / AAEP PROCEEDINGS

The only comment I have is that this experiment was performed on mares with chronic endometrial inflammation so may not apply to mares with no problems.
DrO
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