Isolation of mycoplasmas from the genital tract of horses.
Vaginal swabs from 19 mares and penile swabs from 4 stallions were cultured for mycoplasmas. A single semen sample from one of the stallions was also examined. Twelve vaginal swabs and 2 penile swabs yielded mycoplasmas. Ten of the positive vaginal swabs were from mares with vaginitis, or with a history of failure of conception. Two were from apparently healthy mares, but one had been served by an infected stallion. One positive penile swab was from a stallion with ulcerative lesions and the other from a stallion with breeding difficulties. All 14 strains of mycoplasma utilised arginine, and the growth of 11 strains was inhibited by hyperimmune serum against one strain.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D007246:Infertility / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010413:Penis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary