Current Understanding of Bacterial Biofilms and Latent Infections

Most encounters between bacteria and the equine endometrium lead to an acute period of subclinical infection and occasionally clinical signs. Following an acute infection in the majority of mares the invading bacteria will be eliminated and the infection resolved. However, in a minority of cases, small numbers of bacteria survive and cause persistent infections that can be difficult to eliminate. The development of acute and chronic cases of endometritis is the result of deficiencies in the mare’s ability to eliminate an infection and the causative bacteria’s unique pathogenic properties ...