Bacterial Flora of the Conjunctiva and Nasal Cavity in Normal and Diseased Captive Bustards

Abstract

A survey was carried out to describe the normal aerobic bacterial flora of the conjunctiva and nasal cavity of captive houbara bustards (Chlamydotis undulata), kori bustards (Ardeotis kori), and white-bellied bustards (Eupodotis senegalensis) maintained at the National Avian Research Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A total of 58 samples were examined from the nasal cavity and 55 samples from the conjunctiva of healthy bustards. There was no bacterial growth in 45% of conjunctival samples. Bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva of healthy birds included Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus warneri, Bacillus spp., and Enterobacter amigenus. Bacteria isolated from the nasal cavity of healthy birds included Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., S. auricularis, S. xylosus, Staphylococcus simulans, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus cohnii, Staphylococcus sciuri, Aerococcus spp., and Providencia rettgeri. These findings were compared with bacterial isolates from bustards with clinical signs of ocular or upper respiratory tract diseases. Mycoplasma spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Aeromonas hydrophila, and Staphylococcus aureus were the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva of 34.3% bustards with ocular discharges. Mycoplasma spp., P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas spp., P. mirabilis, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and S. aureus were the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the nasal cavity of 74% bustards with upper respiratory tract diseases.

Antibiotic-Resistance Patterns of Gram-Negative Bacterial Isolates From Breeder Canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) With Clinical Disease

“…27 Providencia rettgeri was isolated in a previous study from the infraorbital sinus of healthy birds. 28 In humans, P. rettgeri has been frequently associated with colonization of indwelling urinary catheters and urinary tract infections, bacteremias, skin infections, traveler's diarrhea, and infections of pacemaker-defibrillator systems. 29 Serratia ficaria was first characterized in 1979 as an important part of the fig tree ecosystem.…”

Intraspecific Variation and Interspecific Differences in the Bacterial and Fungal Assemblages of Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tit (Parus major) Nests

“…The most prevalent pathogenic bacteria in the nests of both avian species were S. hyicus and E. cloacae. The former can cause conjunctivitis in poultry [53], while the latter is a common pathogen of black-bellied whistling ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) [1]. Escherichia coli was also found in nests of both parid species.…”

“…However, as this species thrives in moist conditions, it could relate to the moisture content of the nests that may be higher in blue tit nests as parents frequently add fresh plant material frequently throughout the nesting progress [45], an activity that has not been documented for great tits. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can penetrate eggshells causing embryo death, and can cause localized or systemic disease in newly-hatched chicks, as well as sinusitis and conjunctivas in adults [14,53]. Virulent strains can cause dehydration, dyspnea, septicaemia and death [64].…”

“…Recent studies have shown that birds have distinctive feather bacteria that influence plumage condition and colouring [10,11,52], complex conjunctiva and nasal bacterial assemblages [53] and diet-determined differences in gut bacteria [6,23]. Microbial loads and assemblages often differ between bird species (e.g.…”

Conjunctival flora of healthy and diseased eyes of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus): implications for treatment

“…Conjunctival microbes from diseased eyes have also been described in some captive non-domestic species (Williams and others 2000, Silvanose and others 2001) and from diseased eyes in 17 pinnipeds admitted to a Californian marine mammal rehabilitation centre (Thornton and others 1998). Williams and others (2000) isolated Aeromona hydrophila and Streptococcus canis from ulcerated eyes of a California sea lion ( Zalophus californianus ).…”