Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bacteria found in uterus and urine of dogs with pyometra
By Ylhäinen, Anna et al.Ā·Published in Veterinary microbiologyĀ·2025Ā·Department of Equine and Small Animal MedicineĀ·View original on PubMed ā
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Original publication title: Bacteria associated with canine pyometra and concurrent bacteriuria: A prospective study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of female dogs with pyometra, a serious infection of the uterus, were found to have bacteria in both their uterus and urine. In a study of 208 dogs, 87% had bacterial growth in their uterine samples, and about one-third had bacteria in their urine, often without showing any symptoms. The most common bacteria found was E. coli, which was present in both locations. Fortunately, most of the bacteria were sensitive to antibiotics, meaning treatment options were effective. This suggests that if your dog has pyometra, there may also be a risk of urinary infections, but they can often be treated successfully.
People also search for: dog pyometra symptoms Ā· E. coli urinary infection in dogs Ā· treatment for dog pyometra
Abstract
Canine pyometra is a common and potentially life-threatening reproductive disorder in intact female dogs. This prospective study aimed to (1) investigate the bacterial spectrum and antimicrobial susceptibilities of bacterial isolates from the uterus and urine of dogs with pyometra, (2) assess the clonal relatedness and virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolates from individual dogs, and (3) determine the occurrence of concurrent and persistent bacteriuria or clinical urinary tract infections. Bacterial isolates from 208 uterine and 203 urine specimens collected during pyometra surgery were analyzed. Additionally, follow-up urine specimens were collected from 56 dogs with perioperative bacteriuria. Bacterial growth was detected in 87 % (180/208) of uterine specimens, while concurrent bacteriuria was observed in 33 % (67/203) of cases. In one-third (18/56) of these dogs the bacteriuria persisted, being primarily (15/18) asymptomatic. E. coli was the most common isolate in both uterine (71 %) and urine (81 %) specimens. Notably, altogether 32 distinct bacterial species were identified, with mixed growth in 15 % of the specimens. The vast majority of isolates were largely susceptible to tested antimicrobials. Identification of bacterial species was performed using MALDI-ToF MS, and antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disk diffusion. Whole-genome sequencing of 45 E. coli strains from fifteen dogs indicated high genetic similarities within individual dogs, supporting a clonal relationship. In conclusion, canine uteri with pyometra contained a plethora of bacterial species, predominantly E. coli, and antimicrobial resistance was rare. Concurrent and persistent E. coli bacteriuria was commonly caused by the same clone as found in the uterus.
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Search related cases āOriginal publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39778300/