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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Aerobic Commensal Conjunctival Microflora in Healthy Donkeys...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(6); 756; doi: 10.3390/ani12060756

Aerobic Commensal Conjunctival Microflora in Healthy Donkeys.

Abstract: From a clinical point of view, knowledge of the commensal microbial flora of the conjunctival sac in healthy individuals proves to be of great importance. The aim of this study was to assess the presence and the composition of normal ocular microflora of healthy donkeys. Fourteen clinically healthy donkeys () participated in the study. After prior ophthalmological examination, which showed no abnormalities, a conjunctival swab was taken from each donkey from the right and left eye. Species-specific identification was based on a morphological assessment of bacterial colonies stained with the Gram technique, as well as on biochemical properties and the disk-diffusion method. Around 82% of samples were positive for bacteria cultivation; was the most prevalently detected species, followed by . In conclusion, our study made it possible to determine the commensal flora of the conjunctival sac in donkeys. The obtained results also showed discrepancies in the composition of the conjunctival sac flora of donkeys and horses, despite the geographical proximity of performed studies. Knowledge of the commensal conjunctival flora of donkeys is of great clinical importance due to their greater exposure to corneal damage and infections than horses.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-17 PubMed ID: 35327153PubMed Central: PMC8944520DOI: 10.3390/ani12060756Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on the examination and analysis of normal bacterial presence, often referred to as commensal microbial flora, in the eye sac, specifically the conjunctiva, of healthy donkeys. The results provide crucial knowledge related to clinical veterinary health by highlighting differences in this flora when compared to horses.

Study Design and Procedure

  • The research involved a total of 14 healthy donkeys. Commensal microbial flora in the eyes of these donkeys were the prime area of study.
  • A complete ophthalmological examination was carried out to ensure absence of any abnormalities before collecting samples. The conjunctiva, or the membrane that covers the front part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids, was the source of the samples.
  • To obtain a representative microbial population, conjunctival swabs were taken from both eyes – right and left – of each donkey.

Analysis Technique

  • The technique utilized for identifying the specific types of bacteria was a combined method of morphological assessment of bacterial colonies, biochemical properties, and the disk-diffusion method.
  • In morphological assessment, the Gram staining technique was used where the physical characteristics of the bacteria, especially the bacterial cell wall, were used to classify the bacteria.
  • The biochemical properties of bacteria were discerned via certain chemical reactions, which aids in the identification of different bacterial species.
  • The disk diffusion method allows researchers to understand antibiotic susceptibility, thereby providing additional data on each bacterial species.

Results

  • The results showed that approximately 82% of the collected samples resulted in the growth of bacteria, thus indicating the presence of a significant amount of ocular microflora in the healthy donkeys’ eyes.
  • There was a prevalence of certain bacterial species more than others.
  • These findings help to identify the nature and extent of normal microbial presence in the eyes of healthy donkeys.

Conclusion

  • Despite being geographically close to horses, donkeys exhibit a different composition of conjunctival sac flora. This points to the need for species-specific veterinary care and eye health strategies.
  • Knowledge of commensal conjunctival flora of donkeys holds clinical importance as donkeys are more prone to certain types of eye damage and infections than horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Fraczkowska K, Zak-Bochenek A, Siwinska N, Rypula K, Ploneczka-Janeczko K. (2022). Aerobic Commensal Conjunctival Microflora in Healthy Donkeys. Animals (Basel), 12(6), 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060756

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 6
PII: 756

Researcher Affiliations

Fraczkowska, Kaja
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Zak-Bochenek, Agnieszka
  • Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Siwinska, Natalia
  • Department of Internal Diseases and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Rypula, Krzysztof
  • Department of Epizootiology and Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.
Ploneczka-Janeczko, Katarzyna
  • Department of Epizootiology and Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Pimenta J, Pinto AR, Saavedra MJ, Cotovio M. Equine Gram-Negative Oral Microbiota: An Antimicrobial Resistances Watcher?. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Apr 21;12(4).
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  2. Heun F, Meißner J, Schieder AK, Ohnesorge B, Busse C. Pantoea agglomerans in Equine Ulcerative Keratitis: Prevalence and Comparative Efficacy of Four Topical Antiseptics. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Jan;29(1):e70044.
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  3. Li Y, Wang Y, Gao X, Luo L, Zhang B, Wang X, Li J, Wu R, He L, Li W, Qiu C. Isolation, Identification, and Antimicrobial Susceptibilities of Bacteria from the Conjunctival Sacs of Dogs with Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Different Regions of Wuhan, China. Vet Sci 2025 Jan 6;12(1).
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