Infectious infertility and abortion Flashcards
Specific venereal pathogens (4)
Tayorella equigenitalis
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Equine herpes III virus (EHV-III)
Non-specific pathogens causing infertility in non pregnant mare
Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus
E. coli (haemolytic)
Staphylococcus aureus (coagulase positive)
Other less common potential acute endometritis producers
EHV-5
Fungal infections (candida, mucor, aspergillus, allescheria boydii)
Non-specific pathogens causing infertility in the stallion
Infectious epididymitis/orchitis
Vesicular gland infections
Parasitic infections (habronemiasis)
Pathogens causing abortion
Bacteria: Especially streps but also E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Staphs, Salmonellae, Corynebacterium equi, Actinobacillus, Brucella
Viruses: EHV-1, EHV-4, Equine arteritis virus, severe cases of flu, EIA
Fungal: Aspergillus, Mucor
Miscellaneous: caterpillars
General notes of T. equigenitalis, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa
Transmission: Venereal, iatrogenic, congenital infections, environmental
Signs: Increased incidence of failure to conceive, shortened luteal phase, mucopurulent vaginal discharge after mating, hyperaemia of cervix +/- vagina
Swab and transport in charcoal, cultured in a registered lab
OR PCR
If positive, thoroughly clean the area and apply topical medication, follow with specific growing broth culture to aid rapid re-colonisation with normal flora
If endometritis use large volume lavage with warm sterile saline, intra-luminal or systemic antibiotics, oxytocin
Tayorella equigenitalis (Contagious Equine Metritis)
A true venereal disease
Acute, very savage, purulent endometritis, copious discharge
Notifiable
5-7 days of clitoral/penile scrubbing with chlorhexidine, then active growing broth, or lavage if uterine
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pathogenic strains: capsule types 1, 2, and 5
Venereal, iatrogenic, congenital, environmental
Severe, mucopurulent endometritis with discharge
Can occasionally spread to urinary tract
Treat with chlorhexidine, growing broth culture or lavage and oxytocin
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Difficult to categorise venereal strains
Venereal, iatrogenic, congenital, environmental. Predilection for ‘civilised’ water
May become endemic on stud farms causing recurrent low grade infection
Not killed by chlorhexidine so use povidine-iodine surgical scrub, dilute acetic acid or hydrochloric acid, silver nitrate solution, and topical antibiotics
Full clitorectomy often recommended because topical treatment is not usually successful
Equine herpes III virus
Coital vesicular exanthema (‘spots’)
Usually venereal but can be spread by iatrogenic means
Small vesicles (pox like) appear surrounded by inflamed mucosa, multiple fluid-filled pustules on vestibule of mares and shaft of penis
No effect on fertility per se but may be reluctant to mate due to pain
Lesions often resolve spontaneously in 2-3 weeks
Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus
Most common causal organism
B-haemolytic
Transient post-breeding endometritis
Post coital acute endometritis and inflammatory response that resolves in 48-72 hours
Can occasionally produce a persistent acute endometritis leading to subfertility
E. coli
Haemolytic
Transient post-breeding endometritis
Post coital acute endometritis and inflammatory response that resolves in 48-72 hours
Can occasionally produce a persistent acute endometritis leading to subfertility
Staphylococcus aureus
Coagulase positive
Transient post-breeding endometritis
Post coital acute endometritis and inflammatory response that resolves in 48-72 hours
Can occasionally produce a persistent acute endometritis leading to subfertility
Infectious epididymitis/orchitis
Not common
Non-specific infections (Step. equi - strangles)
Acute phase: epididymis or testes enlarged, warm, painful. Scrotum may be oedematous. Epididymal injury is common. Systemic antibiotics. Cold water hydrotherapy. Elevation of the testes.
Chronic cases: testes become small, firm, nodular in consistency. Low sperm density with increased morphological abnormalities.
Vesicular glands
Disease is rare but recorded
Reported aetiologic agents include K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Brucella abortus
Ejaculates contain RBCs, WBCs and bacteria (often mixed)
Acute phase: enlarged and painful on palpation, ultrasound useful
Treat by irrigation using endoscopy or even removal
Chronic cases: non-painful but enlargement or induration may be palpable
Fungal infections in mare
Candida spp., Mucor spp., Aspigerllus spp, and Allescheria boydii
May result from overlong, over frequent or over vigorous intrauterine antibiotic treatment
Often get an extreme inflammatory response, resulting in a marked purulent endometrial/vulval discharge
Often self resolves but if persistent endometritis do large volume daily uterine irrigation with sterile saline
