The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of the bacterial agents involved in subclinical endometritis in female dromedary

This study aimed to identify different bacterial isolates incriminated in subclinical endometritis (SCE) in female dromedary using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and to evaluate the efficacy of two protocols to treat this condition.

Subclinical endometritis was detected in 211 dromedaries using cytological examinations. Two hundred twenty-six microbial isolates were obtained from 185 samples. SCE-females were arbitrarily allocated into two groups; group I received intrauterine infusion of 500 mg cephapirin benzathine (MTC, n=42) and group II infused with intrauterine flushing of povidone iodine 10% (PVP-I, n=67).

The MALDI-TOF MS was able to identify 224/226 (99.1%) bacterial isolates to the genus level and 181/226 (80.1%) were identified to the species level. The most common identified bacterial species were Staphylococcus aureus (32.74%), Corynebacterium sp. (19.03%) and Escherichia coli (18.58). Conception rate did not differ between MTC- and PVP-I-treated groups. However, the first service-conception was higher, numbers of services per conception were fewer and treatment to conception interval was shorter in the MTC than PVP-I group. Based on the present data, it can be concluded that MALDI-TOF is efficient, fast and reliable for the detection and identification of various bacterial agents incriminated in subclinical endometritis in female dromedary. Fertility indices in treated female dromedaries associated with subclinical endometritis favors the use of intrauterine infusion of cephapirin benzathine therapy in the present study.