EN
A total of 128 cultures of E. coli isolated from uterine pus from 143 bitches with a clinical diagnosis of pyometra were examined by biotyping, resistotyping, drug susceptibility, serum resistance and enzymatic activities. Among the isolates a total of 12 different biochemical profiles were distinguished. The majority (92.8%) of the isolates fell into 5 biotypes. From among 20 biochemical features tested with the API 20E System, only six were recognized to induce variations of strains. These are ornithine decarboxylase, fermentation of rhamnose, saccharose, melibiose, sorbitol and inositol. Seven major enzymatic types were defined on the ground of differentiation in activity of esterase (C4), esterase lipase (C8), /З-glukuronidase and a-galactosi- dase. 47 (36.7%) of the E. coli strains were resistant to two or more drugs. However five strains were resistant to 12 or more antimicrobial agents. An analysis of resistance to some chemical agents was evidence of seven resistogram types. The majority (62.5%) of the isolates were included in profile АВЕН. Resistance to bactericidal action of serum was detected in 119 (93%) strains tested.