EN
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of Mycoplasma canis in the vagina in three groups of healthy canine bitches. Two vaginal swab samples were collected from each of the 91 mixed-breed canine bitches. One sample was placed into a transport medium, chilled and brought to the laboratory within 24 h. These swabs were cultured on a urea-arginine LYO2 broth, thereafter DNA was extracted and tested by PCR. The second vaginal sample was cultured for aerobic bacteria. Totally, 38 (41.76%) samples were positive. In group I (n = 32) M. canis was detected in 22 (68.7%) bitches, in group II (n = 24) in four (16.7%), and in group III (n = 35) in 12 (34.3%) animals. Mixed infections with other bacteria were common. The mean number of isolates from vaginal samples was 2.1. The results indicate that M. canis is a part of normal vaginal flora in healthy bitches. The differences between groups of bitches in the frequency of incidence of M. canis and other bacteria could result from various environmental conditions.