Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bacteria in dog uterus during C-section for difficult birth and puppy
By Goericke-Pesch, S et al.·Published in Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene·2018·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bacteriological findings in the canine uterus during Caesarean section performed due to dystocia and their correlation to puppy mortality at the time of parturition.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 50 female dogs undergoing emergency Caesarean sections due to birthing difficulties (dystocia) were found to have bacteria in their uteruses, which could be linked to puppy deaths. In 34 of these dogs, various types of bacteria were detected, with the most common being Staphylococcus species. The study showed that dogs with living puppies had fewer bacterial isolates compared to those with stillborn puppies. This suggests that the presence of bacteria in the uterus may be associated with higher puppy mortality during birth.
People also search for: dog dystocia symptoms · puppy mortality causes · Caesarean section in dogs bacteria
Abstract
Canine intrauterine bacteriological flora during dystocia is unknown. Thus, frequency (bacterial growth (not) detected), quality (species and number of different bacterial isolates) and quantity (colony-forming units) of intrauterine bacteria in relation to in utero foetal death in 50 bitches undergoing emergency Caesarean section were investigated. Bacterial growth was quantified from single colonies, (+) (0.5), to strong growth, +++ (3) and was observed in 34 bitches (68%), with Staph. epidermidis (n = 12), Staph. intermedius-group (n = 7), β-haemolytic streptococci (n = 6), Staph. aureus, α- and γ-haemolytic streptococci (n = 4 each) being most common and one to four bacteria per sample. Regarding the quantity, most often (n = 46) low growth was identified. In bitches with living pups only (group I), mean number of isolates was 0.78 ± 0.83 compared to 1.60 ± 1.10 (living + stillborn pups, group II) and 1.0 ± 1.15 (stillborn pups only, group III) and mean bacterial growth in groups I/II/III was + (1.0, quantity), + (1.4) and ++ (1.6). Taking just positive samples into consideration, mean number of bacterial isolates was significantly higher in group II compared to I (p = .0088). We concluded that the canine uterus cannot be considered free of bacteria during dystocia. Mean numbers of different bacterial isolates and quantity of bacterial growth are higher in bitches with in utero foetal death.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29638046/