URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN THE SOW - A REVIEW

A sow has a urinary tract infection when over 10(5) bacteria can be is olated per ml urine. Moreover, these bacteria must be isolated in a pu re culture or in a mixed culture with maximum three different species, each of which being isolated in a quantity of more than 10(5) bacteri a per ml. Urinary tract infections caused by Actinomyces suis (previou s name: Eubacterium suis) are a rare finding and are characterized by severe clinical symptoms. In urinary tract infections, caused by facul tatively pathogenic bacteria, clinical symptoms are only sporadically observed. The diagnosis of urinary tract infections can only be made b y bacteriological examination of the urine and microscopical examinati on of the sediment. It remains unclear whether there is any correlatio n between urinary tract infections and reproductive disorders. Accordi ng to several authors chronic urinary tract infections have a negative influence on fertility and are correlated to puerperal diseases and a decreased fertility. However, other authors are of the opinion that t here is no relation between urinary tract infections and fertility and that urinary tract infections are caused by puerperal disorders.