Characterisation of the Bacterial Microbiota of the Vagina of Dairy Cows and Isolation of Pediocin-producing Pediococcus Acidilactici

Overview

Journal BMC Microbiol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2013 Jan 30

PMID 23356904

Citations 32

Authors

Yvonne Wang

Burim N Ametaj

Divakar J Ambrose

Michael G Ganzle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Uterine infections in dairy cows lower profitability of dairy operations. Infections of the reproductive tract are related to the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria during the first three weeks after parturition. However, alterations in the vaginal microbiota composition in the first weeks after parturition remain poorly documented.

Results: In this study, bacteria isolated from the vagina of healthy pregnant, and infected postpartum cows were characterised by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and partial 16S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Populations of bacilli and lactic acid bacteria of the genera Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus were present in both healthy and infected cows. Infected cows had a significant increase in the vaginal enteric bacteria population which consisted mainly of Escherichia coli. Three E. coli isolates harboured the gene coding for Shiga-like-toxin (SLT) I or II. Several isolates of the Pediococcus acidilactici were found to produce the bacteriocin pediocin AcH/PA-1. Quantitative PCR analyses of vaginal mucus samples collected from ten metritic cows before and after parturition confirmed the presence of the Lactobacillus group (Lactobacillus spp., Pediococcus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Weissella spp.); Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, and bacilli. The presence of the pediocin AcH/PA-1 structural gene and SLT genes were also confirmed with qPCR.

Conclusions: In conclusion, overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria, particularly E. coli, after parturition likely contributes to the development of metritis. Our microbiota analysis extends the information related to the composition of commensal bacteria in the bovine female reproductive tract and may facilitate the development of novel intervention strategies for prevention of uterine infections in dairy cows.

Citing Articles

Microbial Gatekeepers of Fertility in the Female Reproductive Microbiome of Cattle.

Adnane M, Chapwanya A Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(20).

PMID: 39456706 PMC: 11507627. DOI: 10.3390/ijms252010923.

Updates and Current Challenges in Reproductive Microbiome: A Comparative Analysis between Cows and Women.

Zangirolamo A, Souza A, Yokomizo D, Miguel A, Costa M, Alfieri A Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(13).

PMID: 38998083 PMC: 11240322. DOI: 10.3390/ani14131971.

Polymicrobial Septic Peritonitis Caused by and following Uterine Rupture in a Goat.

Dos Santos G, Francischetti G, Garritano N, Hagen S, Cagnim A, Catao-Dias J Vet Sci. 2024; 11(6).

PMID: 38922015 PMC: 11209041. DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11060268.

Population characteristics of pathogenic in puerperal metritis of dairy cows in Ningxia region of China: a systemic taxa distribution of virulence factors and drug resistance genes.

Wei S, Ding B, Wang G, Luo S, Zhao H, Dan X Front Microbiol. 2024; 15:1364373.

PMID: 38694808 PMC: 11061491. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1364373.

Harnessing Vaginal Probiotics for Enhanced Management of Uterine Disease and Reproductive Performance in Dairy Cows: A Conceptual Review.

Adnane M, Whiston R, Tasara T, Bleul U, Chapwanya A Animals (Basel). 2024; 14(7).

PMID: 38612312 PMC: 11011061. DOI: 10.3390/ani14071073.

References

Walter J, Hertel C, Tannock G, Lis C, Munro K, Hammes W . Detection of Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella species in human feces by using group-specific PCR primers and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2001; 67(6):2578-85. PMC: 92910. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.6.2578-2585.2001. View

Gonzalez C, Kunka B . Plasmid-Associated Bacteriocin Production and Sucrose Fermentation in Pediococcus acidilactici. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1987; 53(10):2534-8. PMC: 204141. DOI: 10.1128/aem.53.10.2534-2538.1987. View

Ross J . An update on pelvic inflammatory disease. Sex Transm Infect. 2002; 78(1):18-9. PMC: 1763681. DOI: 10.1136/sti.78.1.18. View

Cook R, Sobel J . Emerging role of lactobacilli in the control and maintenance of the vaginal bacterial microflora. Rev Infect Dis. 1990; 12(5):856-72. DOI: 10.1093/clinids/12.5.856. View

Herthelius M, Gorbach S, Mollby R, Nord C, Pettersson L, Winberg J . Elimination of vaginal colonization with Escherichia coli by administration of indigenous flora. Infect Immun. 1989; 57(8):2447-51. PMC: 313468. DOI: 10.1128/iai.57.8.2447-2451.1989. View

Eijsink V, Axelsson L, Diep D, Havarstein L, Holo H, Nes I . Production of class II bacteriocins by lactic acid bacteria; an example of biological warfare and communication. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 2002; 81(1-4):639-54. DOI: 10.1023/a:1020582211262. View

Kurzak P, Ehrmann M, Vogel R . Diversity of lactic acid bacteria associated with ducks. Syst Appl Microbiol. 1999; 21(4):588-92. DOI: 10.1016/S0723-2020(98)80071-4. View

Sobel J, Chaim W . Vaginal microbiology of women with acute recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. J Clin Microbiol. 1996; 34(10):2497-9. PMC: 229302. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.34.10.2497-2499.1996. View

Eschenbach D, Davick P, Williams B, Klebanoff S, Critchlow C, Holmes K . Prevalence of hydrogen peroxide-producing Lactobacillus species in normal women and women with bacterial vaginosis. J Clin Microbiol. 1989; 27(2):251-6. PMC: 267286. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.27.2.251-256.1989. View

10.

Fry N, Fredrickson J, Fishbain S, Wagner M, Stahl D . Population structure of microbial communities associated with two deep, anaerobic, alkaline aquifers. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1997; 63(4):1498-504. PMC: 168444. DOI: 10.1128/aem.63.4.1498-1504.1997. View

11.

Ennahar S, Aoude-Werner D, Sorokine O, Van Dorsselaer A, Bringel F, Hubert J . Production of pediocin AcH by Lactobacillus plantarum WHE 92 isolated from cheese. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1996; 62(12):4381-7. PMC: 168265. DOI: 10.1128/aem.62.12.4381-4387.1996. View

12.

Dobson A, Cotter P, Ross R, Hill C . Bacteriocin production: a probiotic trait?. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2011; 78(1):1-6. PMC: 3255625. DOI: 10.1128/AEM.05576-11. View

13.

Williams E, Fischer D, Pfeiffer D, England G, Noakes D, Dobson H . Clinical evaluation of postpartum vaginal mucus reflects uterine bacterial infection and the immune response in cattle. Theriogenology. 2004; 63(1):102-17. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.03.017. View

14.

Sheldon I, Lewis G, LeBlanc S, Gilbert R . Defining postpartum uterine disease in cattle. Theriogenology. 2005; 65(8):1516-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.08.021. View

15.

Williams E, Sibley K, Miller A, Lane E, Fishwick J, Nash D . The effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide and tumour necrosis factor alpha on ovarian function. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2009; 60(5):462-73. PMC: 2702079. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2008.00645.x. View

16.

Corr S, Li Y, Riedel C, OToole P, Hill C, Gahan C . Bacteriocin production as a mechanism for the antiinfective activity of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104(18):7617-21. PMC: 1863472. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0700440104. View

17.

Vieira J, Messing J . Improved M13 phage cloning vectors and host strains: nucleotide sequences of the M13mp18 and pUC19 vectors. Gene. 1985; 33(1):103-19. DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(85)90120-9. View

18.

Hudson J, Cai Y, Corner R, Morvan B, Joblin K . Identification and enumeration of oleic acid and linoleic acid hydrating bacteria in the rumen of sheep and cows. J Appl Microbiol. 2000; 88(2):286-92. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.00968.x. View

19.

Christensen H, Nordentoft S, Olsen J . Phylogenetic relationships of Salmonella based on rRNA sequences. Int J Syst Bacteriol. 1998; 48 Pt 2:605-10. DOI: 10.1099/00207713-48-2-605. View

20.

Hammes W, Hertel C . New developments in meat starter cultures. Meat Sci. 2011; 49S1:S125-38. View