Aerobic Isolates from Gestational and Non-Gestational Lactating Bitches (Canis lupus familiaris)

Abstract

Mastitis is a complex and well-defined mammary gland pathology, and an emergency in bitches. In dogs, its prevalence is about 1% of all reported diseases and about 5.3% of all reproductive pathologies. Lactating bitches are naturally prone to developing mastitis since puppies can easily overstimulate the epidermal layer of nipples during feeding, facilitating bacterial colonization of the glands. This study aimed to describe the aerobic bacterial flora isolated from milk samples derived from a cohort of patients (n = 87) diagnosed with clinical mastitis (n = 29), subclinical mastitis (n = 17) and healthy mammary glands (n = 46). All of the patients underwent a gynecology consultation to diagnose mammary gland afflictions; physical examination results were coupled with traditional hematological findings. The milk samples were plated on specific microbiological media for bacterial isolation. Among the 162 milk samples analyzed, 93.2% (151/162) had a positive microbiological result, while 6.8% (11/162) were sterile. The bacteriological profile of the milk samples showed 47 different species. The most common bacterial families detected in healthy bitches and bitches with subclinical and clinical mastitis were the Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae families. The results indicated that half of the isolated bacteria are novel findings in dogs and that some of them are normal components of human milk.

Bacteria in Normal Canine Milk Analyzed by Blood Agar Medium

“…In one study it was found a high number of bacteria in canine milk samples, but the authors did not interpret this finding as normal flora and could not exclude potential contamination or mastitis [ 34 ]. Another study found no difference in bacterial representation between healthy and dams with mastitis [ 35 ]. The most common isolate was Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus sp.…”

Aerobic Vaginal Microflora in Gestational and Non-Gestational Bitches (Canis lupus familiaris)

“…The clinical evaluation and diagnostic methodology, including hematological changes, milk and serum acute phase protein levels (APPs), milk cytology evaluation, and milk microbiome results, used to assess the health status of the bitches included in the current study were published by the authors of this research in several other papers [17][18][19]. In total, 40 bitches were healthy; 3 were diagnosed with mammary congestion, 12 with galactostasis, 17 with subclinical mastitis, 12 with acute mastitis, and 1 with gangrenous mastitis, while the other 15, due to lack of data or preliminary laboratory testing, had no definitive diagnostic.…”