Uterine bacterial flora and uterine lesions in bitches with cystic endometrial hyperplasia (pyometra)

Thirty-eight complete genital tracts mere obtained fresh from local veterin ary practices after bitches had been ovario-hysterectomised for the treatme nt of cystic endometrial hyperplasia (pyometra), The aerobic and anaerobic culture of swabs obtained aseptically from the uterine lumen demonstrated t he presence of Escherichia coli in 28 of the 29 cases from which bacteria w ere isolated and, from 25, a pure culture was obtained. Sixteen different s erotypes were identified from 24 genital tracts; 032K(+) CNF+ was isolated from four of 16 cases and 04K(-); from three of 16 cases. Cytotoxin necroti sing factors (CNFs) mere identified in seven of the 16 serotypes; they incl uded 02, 04, 06, 022, 025, 045 and 075, which except for 06 and 045 were ha emolytic, Strains 04K(-) and 07K(+) completely destroyed the integrity of t he endometrial epithelium whereas 088K(+) and 088K(-) had the least effect, The scores for the reduction in the integrity of the endometrial epitheliu m and the degree of infiltration of inflammatory cells mere greater in the presence of CNF 1.