Theriogenology. 2026 Mar 31;260:117918. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117918. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The vaginal bacterial flora plays a role in reproductive health in mammals; alterations of the vaginal microbiota are associated with urogenital diseases in several species. In cats, information on vaginal microbiota is limited, mainly due to anatomical constraints complicating uncontaminated sampling. This study evaluated a novel vaginal sampling method and compared vaginal and vestibular bacterial populations in queens of different breeds, ages, reproductive statuses, and health statuses. Vaginal and vestibular samples underwent bacteriological analysis. The proposed sampling method identified microbial populations at both sites that were not statistically different; however, descriptive analyses suggested that vestibular samples alone may poorly represent vaginal microbiota, potentially influenced by sex hormones (oestrogen, progesterone) but not by health status or sampling efficacy. Predominant bacterial species isolated from both sampling sites were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus canis, and Staphylococcus felis, regardless of oestrus stage or health status. The novel vaginal sampling technique detected 12 bacterial species at the vaginal level versus 9 at the vestibular level, suggesting it may better reflect the vaginal habitat. Compared with vestibular sampling, vaginal sampling showed high sensitivity and specificity for identifying the main bacterial species. Descriptive analyses indicated decreased bacterial positivity and species richness in cases of reproductive disorder, particularly at the vaginal level. Healthy status was significantly associated with the domestic shorthair breed (p < 0.001). Despite the limited sample size and the statistical results, the descriptive analysis supports the validity of this sampling method. Larger studies with quantitative analyses are needed to enhance the diagnosis and management of feline genital disorders.
PMID:41931884 | DOI:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2026.117918
