Cows' reproductive performances and parity order influences the cervicovaginal fungal community. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Carli, Silvia; Lopes, Cassiane Elisabete; Breyer, Gabriela Merker; Dias, Maria Eduarda; Saggin, Bianca Fagundes; Muterle Varela, Ana Paula; Mayer, Fabiana Quoos; Siqueira, Franciele Maboni
• Is Part Of: Microbial pathogenesis. Volume 162(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Infertile cows -- Microbiota -- High-throughput sequencing -- Fungi community -- Parity order; Pathogenic microorganisms -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- parasitology -- Periodicals; Micro-organismes pathogènes -- Périodiques; Pathologie moléculaire -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0882-4010

Abstract

Abstract: Fungi have already been described as etiological agents of reproductive diseases such as endometritis and infertility in cows. However, few studies have been developed to elucidate the entire cervicovaginal fungal communities in cows. Therefore, our study aimed to characterize the fungal community present in the cervix of cows with different reproductive performances. Cervicovaginal mucus was collected from 36 Angus breed cows (1.5–12 years old) on a commercial beef cattle ranch. Twenty-one cows had a history of infertility in the year prior to the collection, showing early return to estrus. Ten cows were sampled at 60–70 days postpartum being considered fertile cows. Additionally, five non-sexually active heifers were employed as control group. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla in the analyzed animals. Diversity metrics of the cervicovaginal fungal community revealed statistical differences in the composition of the fungal community among infertile cows, fertile cows and non-sexually active heifers. In addition, the cervicovaginal fungal microbiota had significative increased richness and evenness in nulliparous cows and non-sexually active heifers, while in multiparous cows a decreased richness and evenness of the fungal microbiota were identified. These results provide an unprecedented understanding of the cervicovaginal fungal structure associated with infertility and parity order. Highlights: The cervicovaginal fungal community between primiparous cows and non-sexually active heifers is highly similar. Multiparous cows exhibited divergent cervicovaginal fungi profiles in relation to heifers and primiparous cows. The parity order of cows modifies the cervicovaginal fungal community.