Vle CONG. INTERN. REPROD. ANIM. INSEM. ARTIF., PARIS, 1968, VOL. I

THE BACTERIAL FLORA OF PROGESTIN IMPREGNATED
VAGINAL PESSARIES FROM SHEEP AND GOATS

C.A.V. BARKER
Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

In 1964 progestin impregnated sponges were reported by
Robinson (1) as a method for synchronizing estrus in sheep when
applied intravaginally. In this report a detailed bacteriological
examination was made on 18 sponges from two experiments. A large
number of bacteria were present in all sponges. The flora in one
experiment with one exception was non specific and no pathogens
were detected. In the other experiment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was isolated from all 12 sponges. Sheep dip may have been the
source of the Pseudomonas infection. Fertility did not appear to
be impaired.

Since 1964, several reports have been made on the use of
pessaries containing Cronolone() (2) in sheep, goats and cattle
but only two have been noted in which the bacterial flora of the
pessaries was examined and no interference with ability to conceive
was attributed to the vaginal flora. Robinson (5) suggests the
physical presence of the pessary stimulates the formation of an
excessive amount of mucous which provides a suitable medium for
bacterial growth.

The present paper (6) concerns bacterial examination of
Cronolone(@)pessaries removed from several flocks of sheep and the
goat herd at the Ontario Veterinary College during the breeding
seasons of 1965-1968.

Materials and Methods -

Fourteen small flocks of sheep and the one goat herd
were used during four breeding seasons for obseryations on estrous
control and synchronization. The pessaries were applied and
removed as previously reported (3). Some of the pessaries on
removal were placed in sterile containers (one in each container)
and submitted to a bacteriological examination involving Gram's
staining, culturing on blood agar plates, MacConkey's agar and
sub culturing on differential media until identification of the
organisms was made. More than one species of bacterium was
usually recovered from each pessary.

The present work was co-incidental to the main work of
studying effectiveness of estrus suppression, synchronization and
subsequent fertility and hence the information obtained in the
main work was useful in relating as far as possible to the effect

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