A total of 128 cultures of E. coli isolated from uterine pus from IU bitche
s with a clinical diagnosis of pyometra were examined by biotyping, resisto
typing, drug susceptibility, serum resistance and enzymatic activities. Amo
ng the isolates a total of 12 different biochemical profiles were distingui
shed. The majority (92.8%) of the isolates fell into 5 biotypes. From among
20 biochemical features tested with the API 20E System, only sis were reco
gnized to induce variations of strains. These are ornithine decarboxylase,
fermentation of rhamnose, saccharose, melibiose, sorbitol and inositol. Sev
en major enzymatic types were defined on the ground of differentiation in a
ctivity of esterase (C4), esterase lipase (C8), beta-glukuronidase and alph
a-galactosidase. 47 (36.7%) of the E. coli strains were resistant to two or
more drugs. However five strains were resistant to 12 or more antimicrobia
l agents. As analysis of resistance to some chemical agents was evidence of
seven resistogram types. The majority (62.5%) of the isolates were include
d in profile ABEH. Resistance to bactericidal action of serum was detected
in 119 (93%) strains tested.