{"id":1531584,"date":"2025-04-30T10:05:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T08:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laboklin.com\/fungal-and-bacterial-detection-in-horse-breeding-hygiene-frequency-and-evaluation\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:46:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:46:54","slug":"fungal-and-bacterial-detection-in-horse-breeding-hygiene-frequency-and-evaluation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laboklin.com\/no\/fungal-and-bacterial-detection-in-horse-breeding-hygiene-frequency-and-evaluation\/","title":{"rendered":"Fungal and Bacterial Detection in Horse Breeding Hygiene: Frequency and Evaluation"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=»2\/3″][vc_column_text css=»»]In breeding mares, infections of the genital tract can primarily lead to infertility, abortions, and the birth of weak foals with septicaemia.
\nFor this reason, bacteriological examination of cervical or uterine swabs, is required before a mare is inseminated, whether by natural or artificial insemination. In addition to bacteriological culture, it may also be useful to test for possible yeast and mould infestations.<\/p>\n

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Protective Mechanisms Against Infections<\/h2>\n

In addition to physical barriers such as vulvar closure, the vestibulovaginal sphincter, and the cervix, local immune mechanisms also prevent the colonisation of (facultative) pathogenic micro-organisms. If these physical barriers are not intact, for example, after a difficult labour, a pneumovagina or urine retention can occur. Pathogens can therefore colonise more easily. Anatomical features such as large hanging uterine horns, defects in the myometrium, a hanging ligamentum latum uteri, and degenerative changes in the vascular supply and lymphatic drainage can negatively impact the self-cleaning of the uterine mucosa.<\/p>\n

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Immune Defence<\/h2>\n

After experimental infection with Streptococcus equi <\/em>ssp. zooepidemicus<\/em>, intact mares were able to eliminate the pathogen within a few hours.
\nIn older mares that had remained sterile for a longer period of time, the elimination of the introduced pathogens Streptococcus equi <\/em>ssp. zooepidemicus <\/em>and Pseudomonas aeruginosa <\/em>took considerably longer.<\/p>\n

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Humoral Defence Mechanisms<\/h2>\n

The dominant immunoglobulins, secretory IgG and IgA, are produced in the endometrium. The concentration of immunoglobulins differs only marginally between mares that are susceptible to endometritis and those that prove to be immune to it.
\nMares that were susceptible to endometritis were less efficient at eliminating introduced streptococci with opsonins during the acute infection and were therefore less able to initiate their elimination.<\/p>\n

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Cellular Immune Response<\/h2>\n

Chemotactically, neutrophils can react to bacteria, endotoxins, sperm, semen diluents, and even sterile water, with no significant difference between mares that are susceptible to endometritis and those that are not.<\/p>\n

The cellular stimulation after mating can lead to a permanent inflammatory reaction in some mares due to the foreign protein, known as permanent mating-induced endometritis (PMIE). This persistent inflammatory reaction, with an increased occurrence of neutraphils, is further stimulated by the presence of bacteria. It is initiated by a local reaction to the primary antigen, with local production of inflammatory mediators, particularly prostaglandin E2, and the increased influx of neutraphils along with serum proteins. The phagocytic activity of the neutrophils is highest during oestrus.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=»1\/3″][vc_column_text css=»»]<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t