Comparative analysis of the reproductive tract microbial communities in female dogs with and without pyometra through the 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing

Canine pyometra is one of the most common illnesses in middle-aged to aged bitches. We used the 16S rRNA gene analysis to evaluate whether there are differences in bacterial compositions between dogs with and without pyometra. Control vaginal swabs were obtained from clinically healthy bitches (n = 5) while uterus of bitches (n = 5) with pyometra were obtained through ovariohysterectomy. Results from this study showed that bacteria belonging to families Pasteurellaceae, Fusobacteriaceae and Porphyromonadaceae were abundant in the pyometra group. It is likely that these families comprise bacterial species which may be involved in the pathogenesis of canine pyometra. This is the first report to investigate the microbial community in uterus of bitches with pyometra using high throughput next generation sequencing.