[charming]

My 12 year old Appy mare is out for breeding, before breeding she was cultured (at the breeder's place) and the test came back that she has an e coli infection, a strep infection and a pdeudomonas infection in her uterus, as well as one bacteria which is unidentified. Vet said if we had waited one more year to breed her (like I had initially planned) by that point she would be sterile.

Anyway, the vet said to go ahead and breed her and that none of these infections are sexually transmittable. She was bred May 30th, June 1st and today.

We're located in Northern BC, the vet had to order special antiobiotics from Edmonton that would eliminate all three bacterias. I feel like we're on a very time sensitive matter now that she's been bred and the medication hasn't arrived yet, but that's not why I'm posting.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has had any experience with pseudomonas infection in their horses? Any input/advice would be appreciated.

[mtgirl]

Wow! I can say that I never have had any experience with pseudomonas. Sorry I can't give you any advise

[texasreb]

It's normally a lung infection (at least in humans it is).

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by charming

My 12 year old Appy mare is out for breeding, before breeding she was cultured (at the breeder's place) and the test came back that she has an e coli infection, a strep infection and a pdeudomonas infection in her uterus, as well as one bacteria which is unidentified. Vet said if we had waited one more year to breed her (like I had initially planned) by that point she would be sterile.

Was a cytology done in conjunction with the culture? psdeuomonas is a commensal organism that is an opptorunistic pathogen. So, while a cytology will not show if it is a contaminant or an actual pathogen, the e coli is quite common to be a contaminant. pseudomonas can be difficult to treat, but not impossible.

Anyway, the vet said to go ahead and breed her and that none of these infections are sexually transmittable. She was bred May 30th, June 1st and today.

From our course notes:

· Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
o There are a number of strains of P. aeruginosa, not all of which cause true venereal disease and there is, as yet, no reliable laboratory test to differentiate between the strains. All isolates must therefore be considered as potential venereal pathogens unless proved otherwise by test mating. When transmitted to the stallion's penis, P. aeruginosa can be extremely difficult to eradicate.

Hopefully your mare was NOT being bred live cover.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has had any experience with pseudomonas infection in their horses? Any input/advice would be appreciated.

See above.

Good luck!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[charming]

She was bred live cover, at my vet's encouragement. I'm not sure I understand what a 'cytology' is, but if you mean if the cells were examined under a microscope, then yes, that was done.

This whole thing is incredibly stressful. LOL.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by charming

She was bred live cover, at my vet's encouragement.

Well, if it is indeed pseudomonas, if I were the stallion owner, I'd be having me some vet for dinner

I'm not sure I understand what a 'cytology' is, but if you mean if the cells were examined under a microscope, then yes, that was done.
This whole thing is incredibly stressful. LOL.

A cytology is done to determine if there are any inflammatory cells in the uterus. No inflammatory cells is indicative that there is no infection with the exception of pseudomonas. If pseudomonas is grown, it should be treated. However, with e-coli, without the presence of inflammatory cells, chances are it was a contaminant. Make sense?

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[charming]

Yes that makes total sense, thank you, lol. I didn't get any info from the vet as to wether or not there were inflammatory cells, but I'm assuming there were since she said the e coli infection was quite heavy, so likelihood of it being a contaminant is slim.

This was the stallion's first time ever covering a mare, he's a 3 year old and has never bred before.

[Equine Repro]

Originally Posted by charming

Yes that makes total sense, thank you, lol. I didn't get any info from the vet as to wether or not there were inflammatory cells, but I'm assuming there were since she said the e coli infection was quite heavy, so likelihood of it being a contaminant is slim.

Nope. Depends on how good one's technique is or what kind of culture swab one is using when taking the culture swab. If you inadvertently don't keep the end of the swab covered with your fingertip or if you are using a single guarded swab, it's actually quite easy to "scoop up" LOTS of bacteria when passing the swab.

This was the stallion's first time ever covering a mare, he's a 3 year old and has never bred before.

Won't make any difference. That's like saying someone won't get pregnant the first time they have sex. I would strongly suggest you notify the stallion owner that the mare may have a pseudomonas infection. Once a stallion contracts it, it can be extremely difficult to eradicate and any mare that he subsequently breeds there is a risk that he will pass the bacteria on to her.

Hope that helps!

Kathy St.Martin
Equine Reproduction Short Courses
http://www.equine-reproduction.com

[charming]

Oh I didn't mean that because he had never bred before he wouldn't get it! No no no! lol I was just throwing that out there! The stallion owner knows about the infections, she's been a big part of the whole thing, she is the one treating my mare with the antibiotics.

I guess this info comes a little too late, we have trusted the vet's advice and bred the two.

[Spotted Mustang]

This might be slightly off-topic, but why did the vet encourage you to breed her if her uterus was in such bad shape?

How likely would she be to conceive or carry a foal to term if her reproductive system was so badly infected? Why not wait until she was clean and healthy before breeding?