The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.

A healthy and balanced vaginal microbiome is often thought to be an important prerequisite for successful breeding and healthy litters. Previous studies investigating the influence of canine vaginal bacteria on fertility mostly relied on aerobic culturing. In recent years, culture-independent method...

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Main Authors: Anna Sophia Leps, Eva-Maria Packeiser, Christina Schwens, Benjamin Stoelcker, Semir Doric, Martina Wirkner, Beate Walter, Axel Wehrend, Viktoria Kichmann, Klaus Jung, Sandra Goericke-Pesch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321683
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author Anna Sophia Leps
Eva-Maria Packeiser
Christina Schwens
Benjamin Stoelcker
Semir Doric
Martina Wirkner
Beate Walter
Axel Wehrend
Viktoria Kichmann
Klaus Jung
Sandra Goericke-Pesch
author_facet Anna Sophia Leps
Eva-Maria Packeiser
Christina Schwens
Benjamin Stoelcker
Semir Doric
Martina Wirkner
Beate Walter
Axel Wehrend
Viktoria Kichmann
Klaus Jung
Sandra Goericke-Pesch
author_sort Anna Sophia Leps
collection DOAJ
description A healthy and balanced vaginal microbiome is often thought to be an important prerequisite for successful breeding and healthy litters. Previous studies investigating the influence of canine vaginal bacteria on fertility mostly relied on aerobic culturing. In recent years, culture-independent methods, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), have become popular. With the ability to analyze the microbiome as a whole, research in this field has made notable advances. This is the first study to correlate NGS data of the canine vaginal microbiome in heat with fertility data. Healthy breeding bitches (n=80) presented for routine pre-breeding examination were sampled during early heat and mated after ovulation. A vaginal sample was taken for NGS analysis and microbiological culture. Additionally, a blood sample was collected. Fertility data (mating, pregnancy, delivery, litter size) were assessed. NGS revealed a diverse microbiome in all the samples. Bioinformatics and statistical analysis did not provide evidence of larger differences in the microbiome of those bitches that became pregnant and those that did not.
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publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
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spelling doaj-art-94944ac9d7c5403babb83d0cbf6feead2025-08-20T02:15:50ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01204e032168310.1371/journal.pone.0321683The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.Anna Sophia LepsEva-Maria PackeiserChristina SchwensBenjamin StoelckerSemir DoricMartina WirknerBeate WalterAxel WehrendViktoria KichmannKlaus JungSandra Goericke-PeschA healthy and balanced vaginal microbiome is often thought to be an important prerequisite for successful breeding and healthy litters. Previous studies investigating the influence of canine vaginal bacteria on fertility mostly relied on aerobic culturing. In recent years, culture-independent methods, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), have become popular. With the ability to analyze the microbiome as a whole, research in this field has made notable advances. This is the first study to correlate NGS data of the canine vaginal microbiome in heat with fertility data. Healthy breeding bitches (n=80) presented for routine pre-breeding examination were sampled during early heat and mated after ovulation. A vaginal sample was taken for NGS analysis and microbiological culture. Additionally, a blood sample was collected. Fertility data (mating, pregnancy, delivery, litter size) were assessed. NGS revealed a diverse microbiome in all the samples. Bioinformatics and statistical analysis did not provide evidence of larger differences in the microbiome of those bitches that became pregnant and those that did not.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321683
spellingShingle Anna Sophia Leps
Eva-Maria Packeiser
Christina Schwens
Benjamin Stoelcker
Semir Doric
Martina Wirkner
Beate Walter
Axel Wehrend
Viktoria Kichmann
Klaus Jung
Sandra Goericke-Pesch
The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
PLoS ONE
title The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
title_full The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
title_fullStr The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
title_full_unstemmed The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
title_short The canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs.
title_sort canine vaginal microbiome during heat and fertility in healthy breeding dogs
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321683
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