Chlamydia abortus, the etiological agent of Ovine Enzootic Abortion, is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria that infects a large number of mammalian species including equidae causing reproductive and respiratory signs (abortion, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, polyarthritis). Genital infection (occasional abortion and infertility) and conjunctivitis have been reported in mares but relationships between abortion and chlamydial infection is still under discussion [1]. In this study, 50 mares housed in farms located in the area of Turin (Italy) of various ages (between 4 and 20 years, mean and median value = 12) and races with previous history of hypofertility, embryonal or fetal reabsorption, abortions or dystocia were subjected to cytobrush, uterine swab, uterine biopsy and PCR. Must be said that, even if we are not certain of the period and the number of sheep, they came from farms where flocks were transited some time before sampling. C. abortus DNA was detected in 6 subjects, by use of a diagnostic and highly sensitive nested-PCR based on ompA gene [2], followed by DNA sequencing, performed by a commercial resource. On microbiological examination one out of all samples, resulted infected with Enterococcus and one with S. epidermidis (both Chlamydia positive). In infected animals cytobrush showed mucus, debris and >5 PMN/field at 400X and biopsies highlighted different degrees of mononuclear infiltrate and slight desquamation of epithelia. In one PCR+ case, mononuclear infiltrate was mainly localised to submucosa and a moderate periglandular fibrosis was present. All chlamydia-positive mares have been treated with oxytetracycline (6 g intrauterine for 3 days) and 3 of them remained pregnant in the same breeding session. This early phase of our study provide the evidence that the presence of C. abortus in mare is underestimated and that its presence can probably play an important role in infertility causing an endometrial, although mild, chronic damage. Moreover, in case of detection of C. abortus in infertile mare, intrauterine oxytetracycline therapy may represent a preventive valid treatment in avoiding failure in mare pregnancy.
APPEARANCES OF CHLAMYDIA ABORTUS IN INFERTILE MARES
Patrizia Nebbia;Tiziana Nervo;Patrizia Robino;Maria Cristina Stella;Simonetta Appino
2018-01-01
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus, the etiological agent of Ovine Enzootic Abortion, is an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria that infects a large number of mammalian species including equidae causing reproductive and respiratory signs (abortion, pneumonia, conjunctivitis, polyarthritis). Genital infection (occasional abortion and infertility) and conjunctivitis have been reported in mares but relationships between abortion and chlamydial infection is still under discussion [1]. In this study, 50 mares housed in farms located in the area of Turin (Italy) of various ages (between 4 and 20 years, mean and median value = 12) and races with previous history of hypofertility, embryonal or fetal reabsorption, abortions or dystocia were subjected to cytobrush, uterine swab, uterine biopsy and PCR. Must be said that, even if we are not certain of the period and the number of sheep, they came from farms where flocks were transited some time before sampling. C. abortus DNA was detected in 6 subjects, by use of a diagnostic and highly sensitive nested-PCR based on ompA gene [2], followed by DNA sequencing, performed by a commercial resource. On microbiological examination one out of all samples, resulted infected with Enterococcus and one with S. epidermidis (both Chlamydia positive). In infected animals cytobrush showed mucus, debris and >5 PMN/field at 400X and biopsies highlighted different degrees of mononuclear infiltrate and slight desquamation of epithelia. In one PCR+ case, mononuclear infiltrate was mainly localised to submucosa and a moderate periglandular fibrosis was present. All chlamydia-positive mares have been treated with oxytetracycline (6 g intrauterine for 3 days) and 3 of them remained pregnant in the same breeding session. This early phase of our study provide the evidence that the presence of C. abortus in mare is underestimated and that its presence can probably play an important role in infertility causing an endometrial, although mild, chronic damage. Moreover, in case of detection of C. abortus in infertile mare, intrauterine oxytetracycline therapy may represent a preventive valid treatment in avoiding failure in mare pregnancy.
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