Determination of Conjunctival Microbial Flora in Clinically Normal Feline Conjunctiva
Introduction
This study focused on the determination of conjunctival microbial flora in normal cats for investigating relations between factors like old, environment and breed that predispose conjunctivitis.
Material and Methods
Samples were obtained from both conjunctival sacs of 35 household cats for aerobic and anaerobic cultures by moist sterile swabs. Any cats suffered from eye diseases previously.
Results
No bacteria were seen in 45/7%, while a single isolate was obtained from 17% and in 31/5% of cases two species and in 5/8% of cases three kind of bacteria were isolated. These bacteria were include: Staphylococcus epidermis 47%, Staphylococcus aureus 23/5, Staphylococcus saprephyticus11/7% unknown Staphylococcus 17/8%, alpha hemolytic Streptococci 21%, beta hemolytic Streptococci 11%, non hemolytic Streptococci 10/5%, Corynebacterium Spp. 10/5%, Coliform 15/8%, Bacillus spp. 10/5% and Moraxella catarhalis 5/2%. No anaerobic was isolated in this study.
Conclusion
No significant difference was seen between both eyes. The most accumulation of bacteria was seen in mixed cats (66%) and minimum level was in Siamese (20%). Also in regard to keeping manner, the great number of bacteria was seen in cats can go to garden (83.3%) Also the most number of bacteria was seen in cats above 2 years old (97%).