Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Association between bacterial pathogenicity, endometrial histological changes and clinical prognosis in canine pyometra.
- Journal:
- Theriogenology
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Xavier, Rafael Gariglio Clark et al.
- Affiliation:
- Escola de Veteriná · Brazil
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at 39 dogs with a serious condition called pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus. The average age of these dogs was about 9.6 years, and many showed symptoms like trouble breathing, eating less than usual, and signs of inflammation in their blood. Most of the dogs had a high level of inflammation in their uterus, and a common type of bacteria called Escherichia coli was found in many of them, which is linked to more severe cases of the disease. The researchers found that certain genes in this bacteria could help predict how serious the pyometra might be and how long the dogs would need to stay in the hospital. Overall, the findings suggest that understanding these bacteria could help veterinarians better assess and manage the condition in affected dogs.
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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37865019/