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Silva JA, Castañares M, Mouguelar H, Valenciano JA, Pellegrino MS. Isolation of lactic acid bacteria from the reproductive tract of mares as potentially beneficial strains to prevent equine endometritis. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1353-1366. [PMID: 38233700 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10295-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Endometritis, the inflammation of the endometrium, is the leading cause of subfertility in mares, and therefore responsible for major economic losses in the horse industry worldwide. It is generally treated with uterine lavages combined with ecbolic agents and local or systemic antibiotics. However, since antibiotic overuse has been associated with antimicrobial resistance in mares with persistent endometritis, new prevention and treatment alternatives are needed. One such alternative could be the use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the host. Thanks to their species specificity, resident microbiota may restore ecological equilibrium within the host, and therefore, help prevent infections and improve physiological functions. In the present study, 257 bacterial strains were isolated from 77 healthy mares, and 88.76% (n = 228) of them were phenotypically classified as LAB. Within this group, 65.79% were able to inhibit at least one strain from each of the genera that most commonly cause equine endometritis (Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus spp.). Five strains (RCE11, RCE20, RCE91, RCE99, and RCE167) were selected on the basis of their beneficial properties: ability to autoaggregate and adhere to equine epithelial cells, high inhibition of and co-aggregation with all the bacteria isolated from clinical cases of endometritis evaluated, and negative co-inhibition between one another. All five were finally identified as Enterococcus spp., namely E. faecium (two strains), E. hirae (two strains), and E. gallinarum (one strain). Further studies will assess their safety and biotechnological potential for the design of a multi-strain probiotic formula to prevent equine endometritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Alejandra Silva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Cs. Ex. Fco-Qcas y Naturales, National University of Río Cuarto, Route 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Castañares
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Cs. Ex. Fco-Qcas y Naturales, National University of Río Cuarto, Route 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Horacio Mouguelar
- Departament of Anatomy, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary, National University of Río Cuarto, Route 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Javier Aguilar Valenciano
- Departament of Animal Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary, National University of Río Cuarto, Route 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Matías Santiago Pellegrino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Cs. Ex. Fco-Qcas y Naturales, National University of Río Cuarto, Route 36 Km 601, X5804ZAB, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Godoy Cruz 2290, C1425FQB, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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