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Normal bacterial conjunctival flora in the H uacaya alpaca ( V icugna pacos )
Author(s) -
Storms Goedele,
Meersschaert Carole,
Farnir Frédéric,
Grauwels Magda
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/vop.12248
Subject(s) - bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , viridans streptococci , biology , streptococcus , bacteroides , flora (microbiology) , ovis , anaerobic bacteria , ecology , genetics
Abstract Objective To describe the bacterial flora of the normal conjunctiva of H uacaya alpacas ( V icugna pacos ) and to determine the effect of age and gender on this flora. Animals studied Fifty H uacaya alpacas. Procedures After a complete ophthalmic examination, conjunctival swabs were obtained from both eyes and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Logistic and P oisson regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of age and gender on bacterial isolation. Results Four animals were excluded because of signs of external ocular disease. Of the remaining 46 alpacas, bacteria were recovered from 96.7% (89/92) of the eyes. A total of 190 bacterial isolates were cultured with a mean of 2.1 bacterial isolates per eye. The majority of isolates (70%) were G ram‐positive. Staphylococcus xylosus (44/190: 23.2%) predominated, followed by viridans streptococci (32/190: 16.8%) and P antoea agglomerans (24/190: 12.6%). Other frequently isolated bacteria included R othia mucilaginosa (12/190: 6.3%), S taphylococcus equorum (12/190: 6.3%), B acillus species (9/190: 4.7%), M oraxella ovis (9/190: 4.7%), and M oraxella catarrhalis (6/190: 3.2%). Statistical analysis showed that alpacas harboring viridans streptococci and M oraxella species were significantly younger. Gender did not significantly affect type of bacterial isolation. There appeared to be no significant effect of age or gender on number of bacteria isolated. Conclusions Gram‐positive aerobes were most commonly cultured, with S . xylosus and viridans streptococci predominating. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of M oraxella species in the healthy conjunctival sac of alpacas. Alpacas harboring viridans streptococci and M oraxella species were significantly younger.