Impact of Intravaginal Progesterone-Impregnated Sponge on Vaginal Microflora and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Honamli Goats

Authors : Atakan Çortu, Ezgi Şababoğlu Baytaroğlu
Pages : 150-156
Doi:10.31196/huvfd.1761949
View : 61 | Download : 183
Publication Date : 2025-12-24
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :This study aimed to evaluate the changes in vaginal microflora before and after the application of intravaginal progesterone-impregnated sponges in Honamli goats during the natural breeding season, and to assess the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolated microorganisms. Vaginal swabs were collected from 30 goats before sponge insertion and again after nine days. Bacterial growth was detected in 8 of 30 samples (26.7%) before sponge application and in 25 of 30 samples (83.3%) after treatment (p = 0.0001). Streptococcus spp. was the most frequently isolated pathogen post-treatment (66.7%), followed by Corynebacterium spp. (53.3%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (40%), Bacillus spp. (13.3%), and Escherichia coli (3.3%). Following sponge removal, 22 goats (73.3%) had a vaginal discharge score of 2, which was significantly associated with bacterial isolation (p = 0.01). Despite the high rate of bacterial colonization, pregnancy occurred in 24 of 30 goats (80%), with no significant difference between culture-positive and culture-negative animals (p = 0.31). Similarly, no statistically significant association was observed between pregnancy outcome and discharge severity (p = 0.48), age group, body weight, or body condition score (p > 0.05). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed significant differences among bacterial species for penicillin, ampicillin, and cephalothin (p = 0.003). All isolates were susceptible to ceftiofur (100%), while susceptibility to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin was 88% and 82%, respectively. Resistance was highest to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (57%) and cefoxitin (42%). These findings highlight that although intravaginal sponge use substantially altered vaginal microflora and increased purulent discharge, it did not negatively affect fertility in Honamli goats.
Keywords : Antibiotic susceptibility, Bacterial, Intravaginal sponge, Vaginal microflora.

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