Uterine Microbiology and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Isolated Bacteria from Mares with Fertility Problems

Uterine microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated in 239 mares with fertility problems in a prospective study in Sweden. Uterine swab samples were collected with double guarded swabs and transported overnight before being cultured. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) was determined for a panel of antimicrobials. From 152 of the 239 mares at least one bacterial species was isolated, most frequently E. coli (104 isolates), β-haemolytic streptococci (31) and fungi (16). β-haemolytic streptococci were more frequently (p < 0.01) associated with clinical endometritis than with repeat breeding. The opposite was true for E. coli (p < 0.01). Among β-haemolytic streptococcal isolates some resistance was noted for 4 of 11 tested antibiotics, however, all isolates were susceptible to the widely used penicillin G. Among E. coli isolates enrofloxacin was the only of the 10 tested antibiotics for which no resistance was noted. Resistance was most commonly noted to cephalothin (39% of the isolates), streptomycin (22%), trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (15%) and ampicillin (11%). In conclusion, we show that both E. coli and β-haemolytic streptococci are frequently associated with fertility problems in mares and that antimicrobial resistance is a common feature of E. coli but also recognised for β-haemolytic streptococcal uterine isolates.