Evaluation of the conjunctival bacterial microbiota of healthy dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of Universidade de Marília

Abstract

The conjunctival microbiota of dogs is formed by an association of normally non-pathogenic microorganisms, which interact with the animal’s immune system and have the function of acting as a natural barrier against the entry of pathogens. The objective of the present investigation was the isolation of microorganisms from the conjunctiva of healthy dogs. Twenty five healthy dogs from the clinical surgical routine of the veterinary hospital of Unimar were investigated after instilling a drop of anesthetic eye drops in each eye, an upper and lower conjunctival a sample was collected from both eyes with an sterile swab, preserving the sample in Stuart’s and immediately afterwards grown in BHI (Brain Heart Infusion), 6% sheep blood agar, MacConkey agar and TSA agar. After bacterial growth, cultured microorganisms were identified by means of biochemical screening tests of oxidase and catalase, in addition to analysis of the bacterial morphology in the slide, pattern and growth stain on agar. It was isolated bacteria from eye samples of twenty animals, of them, 38% of isolates were compatible with S. intermedius; 30% of Bacilo sp. and 10% S. aureus. The species Staphylococcus sp. is native to mucous membranes and is not pathogenic to the animal. So it was found the predominance of S. intermedius in samples from the eye microbiota of the healthy dogs investigated.