Microbiome of the Mare Reproductive Tract

Characterization of the mare reproductive tract microbiome could aid in clinical diagnosis and treatment of disease. Twenty mares were sampled as a part of this study population: fifteen healthy mares and five mares with uterine disease confirmed based on clinical presentation and daily rectal ultrasonography of the uterus. Of the healthy mares, seven were in estrus and six in diestrus. Samples were taken from four locations in the mare reproductive tract: the clitoral fossa, vaginal vestibule, vaginal vault, and uterus. Uterine samples were taken using two techniques: sterile swab and low volume lavage, which involves infusing 150 milliliters of sterile saline into the uterus and recovering it shortly after. Samples were prepared using the Kozich et al. protocol developed at the lab of Patrick Schloss. Sample were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq using an Illumina v2, 250 base pair, 500 cycle, paired-end reagent kit.