Association of Mycoplasma canis with fertility disorders in dogs : a case study supported by clinical examination, PCR, 16S microbiota profiling, and serology

Suhadolc, Sara (author), Slavec, Brigita (author), Klinc, Primož (author), Tozon, Nataša (author), Papić, Bojan (author), Koprivec, Saša (author)

The role of Mycoplasma canis in canine fertility disorders is still poorly understood. As infection is often asymptomatic, there is an increasing need for appropriate diagnostic methods and treatment plans that would allow the reliable detection of M. canis infection and rapid alleviation of infection symptoms in affected dogs. In this study, we included 14 dogs with fertility problems and 16 dogs without fertility disorder signs. We compared clinical examination data and selected laboratory parameters (hematology and biochemistry) between the groups. We performed PCR-based detection of M. canis and 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota profiling of DNA isolated from vaginal and preputial swabs. Dog sera were tested for the presence of M. canis-specific antibodies. Hematological and selected biochemical parameters showed no differences between groups. PCR-based detection of M. canis in the samples was consistent with the results of 16S microbiota profiling. Several other bacterial taxa were also identified that could potentially be involved in different fertility disorders. Serological methods were not accurate enough since high cross-reactivity rates were observed. In the future, more accurate and efficient methods will be needed to determine the role of M. canis and its true role in the pathogenesis of specific fertility disorders in dogs.

• Language: English
• Keywords: mycoplasma, canine fertility disorders, vaginal swab, microbiota, specific antibodies
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 5, art. 391
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158611
• UDC: 579:636.7.09:616
• ISSN on article: 2076-0817
• DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050391
• COBISS.SI-ID: 194880515
• Publication date in RUL: 18.06.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Pathogens
• Shortened title: Pathogens
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-0817
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523338009

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 16.06.2024

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikoplazma, motnje plodnosti psov, vaginalni bris, mikrobiota, specifična protitelesa

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0053
• Name: Endokrini, imunski in encimski odzivi pri zdravih in bolnih živalih

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0092
• Name: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana