Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Moyinoluwa Julianah Onoja; Deborah Temiloluwa Olugbenga; Foluke Olajumoke Jemilehin; Elizabeth Adesola Amosun; Abiodun Iyanda; Matthew Olugbenga Oyeyemi

doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

J Res Vet Sci. 2026; 6(3): 198-205

doi: 10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Moyinoluwa Julianah Onoja, Deborah Temiloluwa Olugbenga, Foluke Olajumoke Jemilehin, Elizabeth Adesola Amosun, Abiodun Iyanda, Matthew Olugbenga Oyeyemi.

Abstract
Aim/background- This study investigated and compared vaginal bacterial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in apparently healthy bitches and those with genital tract infections at different stages of the oestrous cycle.
Methods- A total of 40 client-owned bitches at different stages of the estrous cycle presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan were included in this study. 24 were qualified to the apparently healthy group while 16 bitches qualified to the group with genital tract infections. Vaginal samples were subjected to cytology and bacteriological analysis using standard culture and biochemical techniques. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion following CLSI guidelines. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were applied to assess differences in bacterial prevalence between health groups and across oestrous cycle stages.
Results- The overall positive culture rate was 87.5% (35/40), with mixed cultures recorded in 74.3% (26/35) of positive samples. Escherichia coli (54.2% healthy vs. 56.2% infected) and Staphylococcus spp. (41.7% healthy vs. 62.5% infected) were the most prevalent organisms in both groups. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the prevalence of any individual bacterium between apparently healthy and infected bitches nor in overall positive culture rates. Similarly, no significant differences in bacterial prevalence were detected across oestrous cycle stages. Corynebacterium spp. and Citrobacter spp. were isolated exclusively from infected animals during diestrus and anoestrus, respectively, though their low frequencies precluded statistical significance. Candida spp, a fungus, was isolated from one of the samples from the apparently healthy bitches. Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated the highest sensitivity to fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin), with universal resistance to amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid across all major isolates. Klebsiella spp. exhibited near-complete multidrug resistance.
Conclusion- The findings emphasize the importance of clinical and cytological evaluation before prescribing antibiotics, especially during breeding.

Key words: Vaginal bacteria, bitches, antibiotic resistance, oestrous cycle, proestrus, oestrus

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How to Cite this Article

Pubmed Style

Onoja MJ, Olugbenga DT, Jemilehin FO, Amosun EA, Iyanda A, Oyeyemi MO. Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. J Res Vet Sci. 2026; 6(3): 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Web Style

Onoja MJ, Olugbenga DT, Jemilehin FO, Amosun EA, Iyanda A, Oyeyemi MO. Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. https://www.wisdomgale.com/jrvs/?mno=306942 [Access: July 11, 2026]. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Onoja MJ, Olugbenga DT, Jemilehin FO, Amosun EA, Iyanda A, Oyeyemi MO. Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. J Res Vet Sci. 2026; 6(3): 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Onoja MJ, Olugbenga DT, Jemilehin FO, Amosun EA, Iyanda A, Oyeyemi MO. Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. J Res Vet Sci. (2026), [cited July 11, 2026]; 6(3): 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Harvard Style

Onoja, M. J., Olugbenga, . D. T., Jemilehin, . F. O., Amosun, . E. A., Iyanda, . A. & Oyeyemi, . M. O. (2026) Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. J Res Vet Sci, 6 (3), 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Turabian Style

Onoja, Moyinoluwa Julianah, Deborah Temiloluwa Olugbenga, Foluke Olajumoke Jemilehin, Elizabeth Adesola Amosun, Abiodun Iyanda, and Matthew Olugbenga Oyeyemi. 2026. Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Veterinary Sciences, 6 (3), 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

Chicago Style

Onoja, Moyinoluwa Julianah, Deborah Temiloluwa Olugbenga, Foluke Olajumoke Jemilehin, Elizabeth Adesola Amosun, Abiodun Iyanda, and Matthew Olugbenga Oyeyemi. "Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria." Journal of Research in Veterinary Sciences 6 (2026), 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Onoja, Moyinoluwa Julianah, Deborah Temiloluwa Olugbenga, Foluke Olajumoke Jemilehin, Elizabeth Adesola Amosun, Abiodun Iyanda, and Matthew Olugbenga Oyeyemi. "Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria." Journal of Research in Veterinary Sciences 6.3 (2026), 198-205. Print. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Onoja, M. J., Olugbenga, . D. T., Jemilehin, . F. O., Amosun, . E. A., Iyanda, . A. & Oyeyemi, . M. O. (2026) Vaginal Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Apparently Healthy and Genital Tract-Infected Bitches across Oestrous Cycle Stages at University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Veterinary Sciences, 6 (3), 198-205. doi:10.5455/JRVS.20260115044115