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  Discussion on A mare with a uterine infection.
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Posted on Friday, Mar 3, 2000 - 2:25 pm:

Hi Dr. O

I have an 18 year old Arabian mare, who was cultured last week. The culture result showed a significant Pseudomonas (sp?) infection. The lab is currently doing antibiotic sensitivity testing, to find out which antibiotic to use. (My vet didn't initially ask for the testing because he didn't believe she would have an infection). When he palpated and ultra sounded her he didn't find any abnormalities or any fluid in the uterus, and said that she had excellent uterine tone and her cervix was nice and tight (she wasn't in season). Her ovaries also looked good and had no cysts on them.

My question is, Can the mare recover from this type of infection and be bred this year? How serious is the infection she has? At 18 years old, is it worth trying to clear it up and trying to get her settled? She has only been bred 2 times in the past, and has had 2 foals. The youngest of her offspring is 3 years old.

The reason I have so many questions, is that I am leasing the mare for the breeding season. I have already purchased a breeding for her, but I do have another mare I can send to the breeder, that is "clean". The last and biggest issue, is that I may be moving out of the area where the stallion is, and would have the added expense of shipped semen, if I move. I'm trying to make some decisions, but have a very short time to make them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Heidi

Posted on Saturday, Mar 4, 2000 - 8:41 am:

Hello Heidi,
I am afraid we do not have enough informatio to accurately answer any of your questions particularly those concerning worth and value. Pseudomonas can be a difficult infection to eradicate as it is opportunistic: it is there because something else is worong. It is this something else that probably will determine how difficult to eradicate it will be.

I am curious did you run a cytology on the culture swab to see if the horse had increase PMNs? Pseudomonas can be a contaminant but there is also work to suggest there may be a symtomless carrier state of the pathogenic strains.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Mar 5, 2000 - 7:49 pm:

I'm not sure if the Vet asked for the cytology. He got called out of town for a family emergency, so I haven't been able to ask him too many questions. As soon as he returns he is coming out to reculture the mare, to make sure this isn't a false positive. I will get more information as soon as I can, and hopefully be able to get some answers for my questions. I do have one new question though.

What does it mean when you say that "there may be a symptomless carrier state of the pathogenic strains"?

Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry I didn't have more information.
Heidi

Posted on Monday, Mar 6, 2000 - 7:55 am:

There is a "feeling" among some reproductive vets that some horses carry a disease causing strain of Pseudomonas without any clinical signs. When these horses breed they cause infection in the newly exposed horse.
DrO
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