The Evaluation of Biofilm-Forming Potential of Escherichia coli Collected From the Equine Female Reproductive Tract

Abstract

Escherichia coli is one of the most common microbial pathogens of equine endometritis. Despite seemingly appropriate veterinary intervention, these infections can become chronic in some mares resulting in long-term infertility. The formation of bacterial biofilm within the uterus has become a recently theorized, yet unsubstantiated, explanation for unresponsive endometrial bacterial infections in mares. The objective of this study was to examine the biofilm-forming potential (BFP) of E. coli isolates collected from the female equine reproductive tract by using the crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy. Approximately 27% of isolates (35/130) demonstrated strong BFP, with 23% (..