Physiological and inflammatory microflora of genital tract in bitches. Potential use of probiotics

Inflammatory diseases of reproductive system tract in bitches are a common problem in veterinary practice. The inflammation can lead to the serious health problems among which the most important are fertility disorders, embryos resorption and mortality, endometritis-pyometra syndrome and also disorders of urinary system. Research to determine the correlation between health status of females, phase of the cycle, age and bacterial flora of genital tract has been ongoing for years, but the results obtained by individual authors are often contradictory. An important aspect is the presence of probiotic bacteria in the female genital tract and the possible use of them in the prevention of inflammatory disorders. The aim of this paper was to gather the knowledge in this field and to present outcomes of current research projects

The in vitro effects of probiotic bacteria on genital pathogens of female dogs

Abstract Background An important aspect in the microbiology of the reproductive system of small animals is the potential occurrence of probiotic bacteria, such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genus Lactobacillus. The presence of these microorganisms is significant due to their strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. This study aimed to select probiotic strains from the oral cavity and vagina that have outstanding antibacterial properties against typical genital pathogens of the female dog reproductive tract. Results The antagonistic activity of ten LAB strains was tested against seven etiological agents isolated from the genital tract of female dogs with signs of inflammation. LAB strains with the greatest ability to inhibit the growth of indicator bacteria were Lactobacillus plantarum and L. acidophilus, while L. fermentum and L. brevis strains inhibited growth the least. Almost all strains showed a complete lack of adherence to Caco-2 epithelial cells. Conclusions All tested LAB isolates inhibited the in vitro growth of either Gram-positive or Gram-negative pathogens, suggesting that potential probiotic strains could contribute to the balance of the normal vaginal microbiota. Furthermore, they could be considered for use as prophylactic agents or as an alternative to antibiotic therapy for infections in dogs