Isolation and identification of bacteria from lower genital tract of female dromedary camel

Abstract

Twenty six female adult multiparous dromedary camels belonging to the herd of National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner were taken for the present study before first mating at the onset of breeding season. Vaginal smears/samples were taken with sterile swabs using a swab holder of 30 cm length. The samples were taken before first mating during the initial period of breeding season. Samples were processed by standard procedures and isolated samples were identified by primary and secondary biochemical tests along with their growth characteristics. Antibiotic sensitivity test was applied by disc diffusion method. Out of 26 samples 4 samples (15.4 %) failed to show any growth despite of duplicate culture, 8 (30.8%) samples had only one isolate, 11 (42.3 %) samples had 2 isolates, 2 (7.7 %) samples had 3 isolates and only 1 (3.8 %) sample had 5 isolates. Out of these 41 isolates, E. coli, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Serratia spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp., Corynebacterium (Actinomyces), Pasturella spp., and Proteus spp. constituted 21.9, 14.6, 14.6, 9.8, 7.3, 7.3, 7.3, 4.9, 4.9, 4.9 and 2.4 per cent, respectively. Gram negative bacteria (63.4 %) were found in slightly higher percentage than Gram positive (36.6%). Low bacterial yield (No. of isolates/sample) reflects otherwise sterile genital tract.