Lactobacilli and enterococci isolated from bovine vagina during the estrous cycle

OTERO, CLAUDIA; SILVA DE RUIZ, CLARA; WILDE, OSCAR; PESCE DE RUIZ HOLGADO, AÍDA; NADER-MACÍAS, MARIA ELENA

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Congress on Anaerobic Bacteria and Anaerobic Infections; 1998

Anaerobe Society of the Americas

Lactobacilli and Streptococci are part of the vaginal ecosystem of mammalian females, including woman and mice. The research area of their use as probiotics is higher everytime, mainly in the prevention of infections. The objectif of the present work was to study the normal microbial kinetics during the different phases of the bovine estrus cycle  for a further selection of the probiotic microorganisms.           The animals used (n=15) were Nelore x Hereford heifers. They were sincronized with  norgestomet subcutaneously implanted during 9 days and  norgestomet (3 mg) and estradiol (5 mg) i.m. at the time of the implant (Syncro Mate B, Rhone Merieux. Argentina). The samples were taken during the proestrus, estrus, metaestrus and diestrus in two consecutive cycles (days –1, 0,2,12 of estrus cycle, estrus=0) . The vaginal samples were taken with cotton swabs by using disposable speculum, collected in Lapt broth and LBS(Lactobacilli Salective Media) broth. The microorganisms were quantified in enriched (Laptg agar and Blood Agar) and selective media (LBS agar for lactobacilli and SF for Enterococci). The identification of microorganism was performed by their morphological characteristics and biochemical properties. The results indicated a)the total number of aerobic and facultative anaerobes microorganisms are between 102 and 105 CFU/sample in all the periods studied. b)lactobacilli are in very low numbers, between 100 and 102 CFU/ sample, not being the dominant flora as in humans. Their highest levels were detected during the estrous c) enterococci are present in values of 102 and 104 CFU/sample, increasing during the estrous and metaestrous. The Enterococci group is part of the dominant population that constitutes the aerobic and facultative anaerobic normal flora of female bovine, while lactobacilli are present in very lows numbers. Showing both a characteristic kinetics with higher number of microorganisms during the periods of high estrogen levels.