Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2024 May;59(5):e14615. doi: 10.1111/rda.14615.
Present study was designed to evaluate the role of virulence factor genes (papG, cnf1 and hylA) in the pathogenesis of canine pyometra. Antimicrobial susceptibility test and detection of virulence genes were performed Escherichia coli (E. coli) detected in uterine swab samples. Animals were divided into two groups based on the presence (VF+, n:14) or absence (VF-, n:7) of the virulence factor genes papG, cnf1 and hylA. Blood and tissue glutathione peroxidase activity, uterine histopathologic analysis and AQP3, ESR1, PGR, OXTR gene expressions were determined in both groups. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 15.1. All E. coli isolates were susceptible to amikacin, whereas resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and lincomycin. None of the isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime. E. coli isolates had at least one virulence gene. The most prevalent gene was fimH (100%), followed by fyuA (95.8%), usp (83.3%), sfa (75%), cnf1 and hlyA (70.8%) genes. Blood GPx activity was greater in VF+ animals. On the other hand, uterine tissue GPx activity was lower in VF+ group compared to the control group. Expression levels of AQP3 were upregulated more than fivefold in VF-dogs compared to the control group. In addition, AQP3 expression levels were found approximately threefold higher in VF (-) than VF (+) group (p < .05). Varying degree of inflammation noted for all animals with pyometra, but the presence of bacteria noted only in VF+ animals. In conclusion, the presence of virulence factor genes does not play a role in the histopathological degree of inflammation, the presence of bacteria was found to vary. Serum GPx activity increased in VF+ animals. While the hormone receptor expressions were similar, AQP expression was upregulated in the absence of virulence factor genes.
本研究旨在评估毒力因子基因（papG、cnf1 和 hylA）在犬子宫蓄脓发病机制中的作用。对从子宫拭子样本中检测到的大肠杆菌（E. coli）进行了药敏试验和毒力基因检测。根据是否存在毒力因子基因 papG、cnf1 和 hylA（VF+，n：14；VF-，n：7），将动物分为两组。在两组动物中均测定了血液和组织谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性、子宫组织病理学分析和 AQP3、ESR1、PGR、OXTR 基因表达。使用 Stata 版本 15.1 进行统计学分析。所有 E. coli 分离株均对阿米卡星敏感，而对氨苄西林、阿莫西林/克拉维酸和林可霉素耐药。没有分离株对头孢噻肟敏感。E. coli 分离株至少携带一个毒力基因。最常见的基因是 fimH（100%），其次是 fyuA（95.8%）、usp（83.3%）、sfa（75%）、cnf1 和 hlyA（70.8%）基因。VF+动物的血液 GPx 活性更高。另一方面，与对照组相比，VF+组的子宫组织 GPx 活性较低。与对照组相比，AQP3 在 VF-犬中的表达上调了五倍以上。此外，在 VF-（）组中，AQP3 的表达水平比 VF+（）组高约三倍（p<.05）。所有患有子宫蓄脓的动物均有不同程度的炎症，但只有在 VF+动物中才发现细菌存在。综上所述，毒力因子基因的存在与炎症的组织病理学程度无关，细菌的存在情况有所不同。VF+动物的血清 GPx 活性增加。虽然激素受体表达相似，但在不存在毒力因子基因的情况下，AQP 表达上调。
