Detection of Taylorella asinigenitalis in donkey jacks in Italy

Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance in the Reproductive System of Equids

Antibiotic administration is a standard therapeutic practice for the treatment of reproductive disorders of equids. This might lead to undesirable microbial imbalance and could favour the acquisition of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is imperative for clinicians to understand patterns of antibiotic resistance when considering and developing treatment regimes. Continued engagement of clinicians with novel alternative approaches to treat reproductive infections would be essential in order to address this rising threat within the One Health perspective. The objectives of the present review were to present the bacterial infections in the reproductive system of equids (horses, donkeys), to upraise the literature related to the issue of antibiotic resistance of bacteria causing these infections and to discuss the topic from a clinical perspective. Initially, the review summarised the various infections of the reproductive system of equids (genital system of females, genital system of males, mammary glands) and the causal bacteria, providing relevant information about horses and donkeys. Subsequently, the clinical therapeutics of these infections were presented, taking into account the significance of antibiotic resistance of bacteria as a limiting factor in treating the infections. Finally, approaches to circumvent antibiotic resistance in clinical settings were summarized. It was concluded that awareness regarding antibiotic resistance in equine reproductive medicine would increase, as we would recognise the multifaceted problem of resistance. Actions and initiatives within the One Health approach, minimizing the potential dissemination of resistant strains to humans and to the environment, with specific applications in medicine of equids should be appropriately instituted internationally.

First report and molecular characterization of cases of natural Taylorella asinigenitalis infection in three donkey breeds in Spain

Taylorella asinigenitalis is a non-pathogenic bacteria isolated from the genital tract of donkeys but also a cause of metritis and vaginal discharge in mares. It is closely related to Taylorella equigenitalis, the cause of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) in horses, and has been present in different countries in Europe since 1995. Up to date, there are no studies on the prevalence of T. asinigenitalis in the equine or asinine populations in Spain; this is the first report of the presence of T. asinigenitalis in donkeys (Equus asinus) from different breeds in three regions of Spain. A total of 106 healthy animals of three different Spanish donkey breeds: Andaluza (26), Majorera (12) and Zamorano-Leonés (68) were sampled between June and July 2017 and a real-time PCR was used to detect T. asinigenitalis in all samples. A total of 39/221 (17,65 %) samples from 22/106 (20,75 %) animals yielded a positive result and were further characterized by MLST; an allelic profile and Sequence Type (ST) could be assigned to 11 of the 39 positive samples, resulting in four novel STs and no clonal complexes within the PubMLST database. There were statistically significant differences in the percentage of positive animals by breed and sex, and also in the variability of STs between farms. Breeding management would have an influence on the percentage of positives in a farm; artificial insemination and separating jacks from jennies should be implemented. Further studies to detect and characterize T. asinigenitalis in donkeys and horses from Spain would be required to obtain a broader epidemiological picture in this country.

Taylorella asinigenitalis: raising awareness of its importance and presence in equine and asinine populations

Taylorella equigenitalis has long been recognised as a causative agent of contagious equine metritis, but practitioners may be less familiar with Taylorella asinigenitalis, which has been identified more recently. Here, Abel Dorrego, Consuelo Serres and Fatima Cruz-Lopez of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid describe T asinigenitalis and report the findings of a survey they carried out in donkeys in Spain.

A new strain of Taylorella asinigenitalis shows differing pathogenicity in mares and Jenny donkeys

BACKGROUND

Three horse mares inadvertently inseminated with semen from a Tayorella asinigenitalis-positive Jack donkey developed severe, purulent endometritis whereas two Jenny donkeys mated naturally to the same Jack donkey did not develop clinical signs of infection.

OBJECTIVES

To isolate and identify the causative agent.

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

METHODS

Endometrial swabs from the infected mares were cultured on selective and non-selective media under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions. Isolates were subjected to Gram staining, oxidase and catalase tests, the Monotayl Latex Agglutination test and PCR to test for both T. equigenitalis and T. asinigenitalis. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed and the bacterial isolate was genotyped using MLST.

RESULTS

A new sequence type of T. asinigenitalis was confirmed.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

A limited numbers of mares and donkeys are described.

CONCLUSIONS

This strain of T. asinigenitalis causes a severe venereal infection in mares but not in Jenny donkeys.

Detection of bacterial populations colonizing the genital tracts of jennies and their changes during the oestrous cycle

The aim of this study was to help improve the management of assisted reproduction of donkeys and to extend the existing information on the fertility of donkeys by qualitative and quantitative assessment of bacterial contamination of the jennies’ genital tract in connection with the perineum formation and oestrous cycle phases. Ten female donkeys were included in the study and were repeatedly rectally palpated and sonographically examined during the oestrous cycle. Samples were taken from the fossa clitoridis and around the cervix for microbiological examination. Each jenny was sampled twice, always at different stages of the cycle, both in the oestrus and in the dioestrus. In addition, samples from the endometrium were taken in oestrus for both microbiological and cytological examination. After collection, the samples were examined in a microbiological laboratory. There were 62 different species of microorganisms found belonging to 19 different bacterial genera. The presence of agents of mares’ infectious metritis Taylorella equigenitalis was not found in any of the samples. The outcome of our study is an initial mapping of the microbial colonization of the endometrium and the genital tract in jennies with correct formation of the perineal region. The hypothesis that the level of bacterial contamination was related to the oestrous cycle was not confirmed. The practical significance of the study lies mainly in the description of the composition, amount and changes of microbiota in healthy individuals during their oestrous cycle, which allows the evaluation of the risk of developing infection during the active oestrous cycle in connection with mating.