Journal of Reproduction and Infertility 4 (1): 04-08, 2013
ISSN 2079-2166
© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.jri.2013.4.1.72199
Corresponding Author: Nibret Moges, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
4
Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of
Bacteria from Dairy Cows with Clinical Endometritis
Nibret Moges, Fekadu Regassa, Tefera Yilma and Chandrashekhar G. Unakal
1 2 2 3
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies,
1
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies,
2
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences,
3
University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Abstract: Clinical endometritis is inflammation of the endometrial lining of the uterus and is associated with
delayed uterine involution and poor fertility. Bacterial pathogens are a potential cause when cows fail to
conceive on one or more cycles in the same season. Furthermore, emerging bacterial resistance to commonly
used antibiotics has been demonstrated. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the antimicrobial
susceptibility of the isolated bacteria from cows with clinical endometritis. In this study, a total of 24vaginal
discharge swabs from cows with clinical endometritis problems were evaluated and the bacterial isolates were
identified and measured for resistance to 8 antibiotics most commonly used during bacterial infection. 91.66%
percent of the examined cows were positive for bacteriological investigations. Amongst 22 successful
isolations, 25% were S. pyogenes, 20.8% Escherichia coli and 20.8% Streptococcus spp. considered frequently
associated with fertility problems. Determination of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates showed that
all isolates of S. aureus were resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin and vancomycin. E. coli showed resistance to
sulphamethaxazole (40%), polymixin (100%), tetracycline (100%), oxacillin (40%), gentamycin (40%) and cefoxitin
(100%). The isolates of A. pyogenes showed resistance to polymixin (66.66%), tetracycline (66.66%), oxacillin
(16.66%), gentamycin (50%) and cefoxitin (16.66%). Klebsiella spp. showed resistance to only cefoxitin (100%).
This study revealed that the clinical endometritis is mainly due to A. Pyogenes,E.coli and Streptococcus spp.
This study revealed that the bacteria A. pyogenes followed by Streptococcus Spp. and E. coli are more
commonly isolated in clinical endometritis in cows and the drugscefoxitin and sulphamethaxazole are highly
effective.
Key words: Cows Clinical Endometritis Bacteria And Antimicrobial Susceptibilities
INTRODUCTION secretion and perturb postpartum ovarian follicle growth
Clinical endometritis is a common reproductive Thus, clinical endometritis is associated with lower
disorder in female domestic animals with consequences conception rates, increased intervals from calving to first
ranging from no effect on reproductive performance to service or conception and more culls for failure to
permanent sterility. It affects the general health of animals conceive [5]. The uterine infections often cause clinical
and adversely affects their reproductive performance [1]. endometritis.
The presence of bacteria in the uterus causes After parturition, bacteria from the animal’s
inflammation, histological lesions of the endometrium and environment contaminate the uterine lumen of most cattle.
delays uterine involution [2]. In addition, uterine bacterial Infection persists in the uterus of many animals for more
infection or bacterial products suppress pituitary LH than three weeks, with about 15% of dairy cattle having
and function, which disrupts ovulation in cattle [3, 4].