Bacterial Isolation and Antibiogram from Vaginal Swap Samples during the Postpartum Period in Sheep

Öz

The uterus in sheep is more resistant to invasion of microorganisms after parturition and bacterial elimination 

can occur rapidly compared to other animal species. In spite of this feature of the uterus, the distocia, assisted delivery, 

stillbirth or the infection-induced abortions, uterine prolapse and unhygienic environmental conditions are predisposing 

factor for development of postpartum uterine infections in sheep. Many aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms related to 

uterine infection can be isolated in the postpartum period in sheep. The aim of this study was to determine bacteria spe-

cies isolated from vaginal swab samples of 40 sheep on between 15-30 days postpartum and antibiotic susceptibilities of 

these bacteria. Swab samples taken under sterile conditions were delivered to Etlik Veterinary Control Central Research 

Institute  Microbiology  Laboratory  under  cold  chain. After  microbiological  analysis,  Escherichia  coli  in  27  samples 

(71.2%), Staphylococcus equorum in 6 samples (15.7%), and both E. coli and S. equorum in 5 samples (13.1%) were 

isolated and identified. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method. According to the anti-

biogram results, E. coli was resistant to antibiotics, including ampicillin, gentamicin, penicillin, streptomycin, sulphon-

amide,  neomycin,  trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole,  lincomycin,  spectinomycin,  trimethoprim,  enrofloxacin,  nalidixic 

acid, ciprofloxacin and susceptible to ceftazidime which is fourth generation cephalosporin group. It was noted that S. 

equorum was susceptible to other antibiotics mentioned above, except nalidixic acid. Identification of vaginal bacteria 

and appropriate antibiotic selection in postpartum period in sheep is very important for the continuity of reproduction. In 

the present study, S. equorum was isolated for the first time in vaginal swab specimens in the postpartum period in sheep

Koyunlarda Postpartum Dönemde Vaginal Svap Örneklerinden Elde Edilen Bakteri İzolasyonu ve Antibiyogram

Öz

Koyunlarda uterus, doğum sonrası mikroorganizmaların invazyonuna karşı diğer türlere göre daha dayanıklı olup bakteriyel eliminasyon hızla gerçekleşebilmektedir. Uterusun bu özelliğine karşın koyunlarda güç doğum, doğuma yardım girişimleri, ölü doğum, enfeksiyon kaynaklı abortuslar, uterus prolapsusu ve doğum esnasında hijyenik olmayan çevresel koşullar postpartum uterus enfeksiyonları için birer predispoze faktör olmaktadır. Koyunlarda postpartum dönemde uterus enfeksiyonu ile ilişkili birçok aerob ve anaerob mikroorganizma izole edilebilmektedir. Araştırmamızda, postpartum 15-30. günlerde 40 adet koyunun vaginal svap örneklerinden izole edilen bakteri türleri ve bu bakterilere karşı duyarlı/dirençli antibiyotiklerin belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Steril şartlar altında alınan svap örnekleri soğuk zincir altında Etlik Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü Mikrobiyoloji Laboratuvarına ulaştırıldı. Yapılan mikrobiyolojik ekimler sonrası 27 örnekte Escherichia coli (%71,2), 6 örnekte Stafilokokus equorum (%15,7) ve 5 örnekte mikst (Escherichia coli ve Stafilokokus equorum; %13,1) mikroorganizma izole ve identifiye edilmiş olup izolatların disk difüzyon yöntemi ile antibiyotik duyarlılıkları belirlenmiştir. Antibiyogram sonucuna göre Escherichia coli etkenin ampirik başlanan antibiyotiklere karşı dirençli, dördüncü kuşak sefalosporin grubu seftazidime ise duyarlı olduğu görüldü. Stafilokokus equorum izole edilen kültürlerde ise geleneksel tedavide kullanılan antibiyotiklere duyarlı olduğu dikkati çekti. Koyunlarda postpartum dönemde vaginal mikroorganizma identifikasyonu ve doğru antibiyotik seçimi reprodüksiyonun devamlılığı için oldukça önemlidir. Bu çalışma ile koyunlarda postpartum dönemde vaginal svap örneklerinde Stafilokokus equorum izole edildiği ilk kez ortaya konulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Antibiyogram,Koyun,Stafilokokus equorum

Kaynakça

1. KaynaklarBraun JrW, (2007). Periparturient infection and structural abnormalities. Youngquist RS. eds. Current Therapy in Large Animal Theriogenology. Second Edition. Philadelphia, WB Saunders. p. 572-574Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), (2013). Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing; twenty-third informational supplement M100-S23. Wayne, PA.Gottshall SL, Hansen PJ, (1992). Regulation of leucocyte subpopulations in the sheep endometrium by progesterone. Immunology. 76, 636–641.Gray CA, Burghardt RC, Johnson GA, Bazer FW, Spencer TE, (2002). Evidence that an absence of endometrial gland secretions in uterine gland knockout (UGKO) ewes compromises conceptus survival and elongation. Reproduction. 124, 289–300. DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1240289Gray CA, Stewart MD, Johnson GA, Spencer TE, (2003). Postpartum uterine involution in sheep: histoarchitecture and changes in endometrial gene expression. Reproduction. 125, 185–198. DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1250185Hayder M, Ali A, (2008). Factors affecting the postpartum uterine involution and luteal function of sheep in the subtropics. Small Ruminant Res, 79, 174–178. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.07.023LeBlanc SJ, (2008). Postpartum uterine disease and dairy herd reproductive performance: a review. Vet J. 176(1),102-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.12.019.Lewis GS, (2003). Steroidal regulation of uterine resistance to bacterial infection in livestock. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 1, 117. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-1-117Mobini S, Heath AM, Pugh DG, (2002). Theriogenology of sheep and goats. Pugh DG. eds. Sheep and Goat Medicine. First Edition. Philadelphia, WB Saunders. p. 129-186.Nováková D, Sedlácek I, Pantůcek R, Stetina V, Svec P, Petrás P, (2006). Staphylococcus equorum and Staphylococcus succinus isolated from human clinical specimens. J Med Microbiol. 55, 523-528. DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46246-0Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey BK, Carter GR, (1994). Clinical Veterinary microbiology. Mosby-Year Book Europe Limited. First Edition. London, England, p.920Regassa F, Noakes DE, (1999). Acute phase protein response of ewes and the release of PGFM in relation to uterine involution and the presence of intrauterine bacteria. Vet Rec. 144, 502-506. DOI: 10.1136/vr.144.18.502Tzora A, Leontides LS, Amiridis GS, Manos G, Fthenakis GC, (2002). Bacteriological and epidemiological findings during examination of the uterine content of ewes with retention of fetal membranes. Theriogenology. 57,1809-1817. DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(02)00684-2
2. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), (2013). Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing; twenty-third informational supplement M100-S23. Wayne, PA.
3. Gottshall SL, Hansen PJ, (1992). Regulation of leucocyte subpopulations in the sheep endometrium by progesterone. Immunology. 76, 636–641.
4. Gray CA, Burghardt RC, Johnson GA, Bazer FW, Spencer TE, (2002). Evidence that an absence of endometrial gland secretions in uterine gland knockout (UGKO) ewes compromises conceptus survival and elongation. Reproduction. 124, 289–300. DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1240289
5. Gray CA, Stewart MD, Johnson GA, Spencer TE, (2003). Postpartum uterine involution in sheep: histoarchitecture and changes in endometrial gene expression. Reproduction. 125, 185–198. DOI: 10.1530/rep.0.1250185
6. Hayder M, Ali A, (2008). Factors affecting the postpartum uterine involution and luteal function of sheep in the subtropics. Small Ruminant Res, 79, 174–178. DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.07.023
7. LeBlanc SJ, (2008). Postpartum uterine disease and dairy herd reproductive performance: a review. Vet J. 176(1),102-14. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.12.019.
8. Lewis GS, (2003). Steroidal regulation of uterine resistance to bacterial infection in livestock. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 1, 117. DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-1-117

9. Mobini S, Heath AM, Pugh DG, (2002). Theriogenology of sheep and goats. Pugh DG. eds. Sheep and Goat Medicine. First Edition. Philadelphia, WB Saunders. p. 129-186.
10. Nováková D, Sedlácek I, Pantůcek R, Stetina V, Svec P, Petrás P, (2006). Staphylococcus equorum and Staphylococcus succinus isolated from human clinical specimens. J Med Microbiol. 55, 523-528. DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46246-0
11. Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey BK, Carter GR, (1994). Clinical Veterinary microbiology. Mosby-Year Book Europe Limited. First Edition. London, England, p.920
12. Regassa F, Noakes DE, (1999). Acute phase protein response of ewes and the release of PGFM in relation to uterine involution and the presence of intrauterine bacteria. Vet Rec. 144, 502-506. DOI: 10.1136/vr.144.18.502
13. Tzora A, Leontides LS, Amiridis GS, Manos G, Fthenakis GC, (2002). Bacteriological and epidemiological findings during examination of the uterine content of ewes with retention of fetal membranes. Theriogenology. 57,1809-1817. DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(02)00684-2