Prevalence of Taylorella equigenitalis infection in stallions in Slovenia: bacteriology compared with PCR examination.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of Taylorella equigenitalis infection in Slovenia is unknown and methods used to refine identification in these stallions are required.


OBJECTIVE
In diagnosis of T. equigenitalis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) would have advantages over culture methods, especially in cases where small numbers of causal agent or intensive contamination of genital swabs are involved.


METHODS
Culture method and PCR were used to examine a total of 980 genital swabs from the urethra and fossa urethralis of 245 stallions for the presence of the contagious equine metritis organism.


RESULTS
Among 245 examined stallions, 225 (91.8%) were negative to T. equigenitalis by both methods. From the swabs of 17 stallions (6.9%) T. equigenitalis was isolated at first and/or second sampling. Swabs of 3 (13%) stallions were PCR positive but the isolation of T. equigenitalis failed. The rate of T. equigenitalis detection was higher with PCR than with the classic bacteriological examination.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR protocol used in this study provided a specific, sensitive, and simple tool for rapid detection of T. equigenitalis. PCR is especially valuable in cases of intensive bacterial and fungal contamination of swabs where the isolation of T. equigenitalis usually fails.
Zdovc
I
I
Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty Ljubljana, Gerbiceva 60, 1115 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Ocepek
M
M
Gruntar
I
I
Pate
M
M
Klobucar
I
I
Krt
B
B
D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D020625:Taylorella equigenitalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
D004269:DNA, Bacterial