Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bacterial infection and uterus changes in dogs with pyometra
By Xavier, Rafael Gariglio Clark et al.·Published in Theriogenology·2024·Escola de Veteriná, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Association between bacterial pathogenicity, endometrial histological changes and clinical prognosis in canine pyometra.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old female dog with pyometra (a serious uterine infection) showed symptoms like rapid breathing, loss of appetite, and high white blood cell counts. Tests revealed severe inflammation in her uterus and the presence of harmful bacteria, particularly a type of E. coli linked to worse outcomes. The dog required hospitalization, and the severity of her condition was associated with longer stays at the vet. Understanding the specific bacteria involved can help predict how sick a dog might get and guide treatment options.
People also search for: dog pyometra symptoms · female dog rapid breathing · E. coli infection in dogs · pyometra treatment options · dog hospitalization for pyometra
Abstract
Despite the high frequency and clinical relevance of canine pyometra, its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, the clinical data, histopathological alterations, and microbiological findings of 39 dogs with pyometra were analyzed to assess possible associations. The mean age of the affected animals was 9.6 ± 3.8 years; 76.3 % (29/38) had open cervix pyometra, 88 % (22/25) had tachypnea, 71 % (27/38) had anorexia, and 60.5 % (23/38) had leukocytosis. Histopathological analysis revealed that 66.5 % (26/39) of the uteri had a high degree of inflammation (score 4). Third-degree hyperplasia of the endometrial epithelium (72 %, 28/39) and intralesional or intrauterine bacteria (66.5 %, 26/39) were identified in most animals. Bacterial isolates were obtained from 82 % (32/39) of the uterine contents and five bacterial species were identified. Escherichia coli, classified in phylogroup B2, is associated with virulent adhesion genes (fimH, focG, and papC), and serum resistance (traT) was the most common isolate. There was an association between the detection of papC in E. coli isolates and higher necrosis scores. Additionally, the necrosis score was positively associated with the length of hospitalization, with each point increase in the necrosis score leading to two more days of hospitalization. These results suggest that papC-positive E. coli play an important role in the severity of pyometra in dogs. The present study revealed the possibility of using this virulence gene to better understand the prognosis of the disease in an affected animal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37865019/