Bacteriological study of urine and its relationship with histopathological findings of bladder and kidney in river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Cystitis and pyelonephnitis in ruminants most often result from ascending urinary tract infection (UTI). Investigating the prevalence of urine infection and its relationship with histopathological findings of bladder and kidney. This study was carried out on 353 slaughtered buffalos (143 female and 210 male) at Ahvaz abattoir, southwest of Iran. After slaughter, urinary samples were taken directly from bladder by sterile syringe. The bladder and kidney were inspected and samples from them were taken for histophatological study. All of the urine samples were incubated for isolation of bacteria on blood agar and MacConkey. Biochemical characterizations of the isolates were performed according to Bergey's manual of systemic bacteriology. Histopathological samples were taken from representative parts of each bladder and kidney and were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Out of the 353 urine samples, 19 (5.38%) were positive. The percentages of infected cattle in female and male were 6.3% and 4.8%, respectively. These bacteria were isolated: E.coli (21%), Staphylococcus spp. (31.6%), Streptococcus spp. (15.8%), Proteus spp. (15.8%), Klebciella spp. (5.3%), Yercinia spp. (5.3%), and Actinimyces and Pasteurelle spp.(5.3%). In histopathological examination, 51(14.4%) and 5 (1.4%) of the buffalos had chronic cystitis and pyelonephritis, respectively. Bacteria were isolated only in 3 cases of chronic cystitis and 2 cases of pyelonephritis. Statistical analysis showed there was no relationship between isolation of bacteria from urine with cystitis and pyelonephritis. Some cases of chronic cystitis are not able to isolate of bacteria from urine and for causing pyelonephritis they need predisposing factors which caused urine retention.