ISOLATION AND STUDY OF THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF MOST GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA FROM CASES OF GENITAL TRACT INFECTIONS IN COWS

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq

Abstract

Bacterial infections of the genital tract are among the most important problems facing livestock herds, leading to infertility, abortion, and poor meat production. Our research aimed to isolate and molecularly study the most crucial Gram-negative microorganisms responsible for genital tract infections in cows, investigating their susceptibility to the most significant antibiotics, and identifying the most important virulence factors. Escherichia coli had the highest isolation rate of 44%, followed by Proteus mirabilis at 7.4%, and the lowest percentage was for Klebsiella spp., Serratia marcescens, and Enterobacter spp., at 1.5%. Through the study, E. coli was the most isolated in cases of metritis, endometritis, and vaginitis. It was also isolated at a high rate in cases of retained placenta and dystocia, which are considered predisposing factors for reproductive system infections at 33.3% and 20%, respectively. E. coli has shown absolute resistance to the antibiotics Imipenem, Tetracycline, and Cefixime. At the same time, Proteus mirabilis showed absolute resistance to Azithromycin, Tetracycline, and Nitrofurantoin. The UidA gene was used to confirm the E. Coli isolates, and virulence factors were detected by PCR using specific primers for the stx1 and stx2 genes. All the isolates of Proteus mirabilis contained the virulence genes zapA and ureC.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal
Volume 71, Issue 187
October 2025
Pages 401-415

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics