Bacteria Isolated From Equine Uteri in The United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Study.
Authors: Omar Hussein, Hambidge Margaret, Firmanes Bernadette, Shabandri Abdul M, Wilsher Sandra
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Bacterial Isolates from Equine Uteri in the UAE Environmental conditions in the United Arab Emirates—characterised by elevated temperatures, high humidity, and year-round breeding programmes—create a distinct microbial landscape for equine reproduction, yet little was known about the specific bacterial pathogens colonising mares' uteri in this region. Researchers analysed 2,022 endometrial swabs and uterine lavages collected over five breeding seasons, culturing samples and conducting antibiotic sensitivity testing to establish a baseline profile of bacterial isolates and resistance patterns. β-haemolytic Streptococcus dominated isolates at 36.5%, followed by E. coli (10.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.1%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.8%), with notably higher prevalence of the latter two organisms compared to international datasets, whilst E. coli occurred less frequently than expected. Antibiotic susceptibility varied considerably: trimethoprim-sulphonamide showed the poorest efficacy (36.4% susceptibility), amikacin the strongest (76.1%), and concerning trends emerged of declining susceptibility to doxycycline, enrofloxacin and erythromycin in Streptococcus isolates, alongside increasing trimethoprim-sulphonamide resistance in E. coli. For practitioners treating endometritis in UAE-based mares, these findings underscore the need for culture-guided therapy over empirical antibiotic selection, particularly given the atypical bacterial profile and evolving resistance patterns, and highlight the value of establishing regional microbiology surveillance programmes to track resistance emergence in real time.
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Practical Takeaways
- •When treating suspected endometritis in UAE-based mares, be aware that P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae are more prevalent locally than in other regions; avoid relying solely on trimethoprim-sulphonamide antibiotics due to high resistance rates
- •Culture and sensitivity testing is critical for guiding treatment decisions, as antibiotic resistance patterns vary significantly by bacterial species and geographic location
- •Amikacin and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid demonstrated better susceptibility profiles in this population and may be preferred empirical choices pending culture results
Key Findings
- •30.5% (616/2,022) of uterine swabs and lavages showed microbial growth with 690 bacterial isolates identified
- •β-hemolytic Streptococcus was the most frequently isolated bacterium at 36.5%, followed by E. coli (10.6%), P. aeruginosa (10.1%), and K. pneumoniae (8.8%)
- •Trimethoprim-sulphonamide showed the lowest antibiotic susceptibility across all isolates (36.4%), while amikacin showed the highest (76.1%)
- •UAE mares demonstrated significantly higher incidence of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae compared to other geographic regions, with notably lower E. coli prevalence