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BMC veterinary research2018; 14(1); 261; doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1598-6

Conjunctival aerobic bacterial flora in healthy Silesian foals and adult horses in Poland.

Abstract: Commensal bacterial and fungal flora of the conjunctival sac has been described in horses and other animals. The identification of commensal flora of the conjunctival sac may aid in the diagnosis of ocular inflammatory diseases, such as conjunctivitis or more severe ulcerative keratitis, common in horses. Moreover, damage of ocular protective barriers may lead to an opportunistic infection. The study was carried out in Silesian horses kept at a single breeding center in South-western Poland, in order to limit any breed-dependant and climate-dependant variables affecting the results. Following an ophthalmic examination that revealed no abnormalities, sterile swabs were collected from conjunctival sac in 26 adult horses and 11 foals. The obtained swabs were subjected to bacterial culture testing. In case of Staphylococcus spp. isolation, susceptibility to methicillin was evaluated. Results: Forty- three bacterial isolates, representing eleven genera of bacteria were cultured from 30 (81%) horses. Gram-positive bacteria were the dominant isolates (72%) (p < 0.001). The most commonly isolated Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus spp., while Moraxella spp. were the most frequently isolated Gram-negative bacteria. There was no significant influence of sex and age on the frequency and type of microbial isolates. Conclusions: Commensal flora is present in the conjunctival sac of healthy horses in Poland. Age does not affect the abundance and type of microbial isolates.
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Publication Date: 2018-08-31 PubMed ID: 30170594PubMed Central: PMC6119321DOI: 10.1186/s12917-018-1598-6Google 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 is about a study conducted on the bacterial and fungal flora present in the conjunctival sac of healthy Silesian horses in Poland, and how this information can assist in diagnosing ocular inflammatory diseases.

Introduction and Purpose of Research

  • The authors of this study shed light on the bacterial and fungal flora present in the conjunctival sac of horses. They noted that understanding these microorganisms can aid in diagnosing ocular (eye-related) inflammatory diseases such as conjunctivitis or ulcerative keratitis, which are common in horses. The study also examined the possibility of opportunistic infections occurring due to damage of ocular protective barriers.
  • The researchers chose to carry out their study on Silesian horses in a single breeding center in South-western Poland in order to limit variables that would be dependent on breed and climate.

Research Methodology

  • An ophthalmic examination was initially carried out on the horses to ensure no abnormalities were present. Once this was established, sterile swabs were collected from the conjunctival sac of 26 adult horses and 11 foals.
  • The swabs obtained were subjected to bacterial culture testing to identify the bacteria present.
  • For Staphylococcus spp., the researchers also assessed the bacteria’s susceptibility to methicillin – an antibiotic commonly used to treat bacterial infections.

Results of the Study

  • The cultivation of the swabs resulted in forty-three bacterial isolates, representing eleven genera (types) of bacteria in 30 (81%) of the horses.
  • In terms of types of bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria were the dominant isolates found (72%), with the most commonly isolated Gram-positive bacteria being Staphylococcus spp. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Moraxella spp were most frequently isolated.
  • The researchers also checked whether the horses’ sex and age had any significant influence on the frequency and type of microbial isolates, but found it did not.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that commensal flora (the natural, harmless microbial population) is present in the conjunctival sac of healthy horses in Poland, irrespective the horse’s age, implying that age does not impact the abundance and type of microbial isolates.

Cite This Article

APA
Zak A, Siwinska N, Slowikowska M, Borowicz H, Ploneczka-Janeczko K, Chorbinski P, Niedzwiedz A. (2018). Conjunctival aerobic bacterial flora in healthy Silesian foals and adult horses in Poland. BMC Vet Res, 14(1), 261. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-018-1598-6

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 261

Researcher Affiliations

Zak, A
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland. agnieszka.zak@upwr.edu.pl.
Siwinska, N
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Slowikowska, M
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Borowicz, H
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Ploneczka-Janeczko, K
  • Department of Epizootiology with Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Chorbinski, P
  • Department of Epizootiology with Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.
Niedzwiedz, A
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 47, 50-366, Wroclaw, Poland.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Lacrimal Apparatus / microbiology
  • Male
  • Methicillin Resistance / genetics
  • Poland
  • Staphylococcus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: In accordance with the Experiments on Animals Act from January 15th 2015 (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland, 2015, item. 266), concerning the welfare of the animals used for research or teaching purposes, the provisions shall not apply to: 1. veterinary services as defined by the Act from December 18th 2003 concerning veterinary practices (Journal of Laws from 2004, No. 11, item 95 as amended in item 3), as well as agricultural activity, raising and breeding livestock according to the Animal Welfare Act, not designed to carry out medical procedures; 2. clinical veterinary studies carried out according to Article 37ah-37ak of the Act from September 6th 2001 – Pharmaceutical Law (Journal of Laws from 2008, No. 45, item 271 as amended in item 4); 3. activity aimed at identifying animals; 4. capturing wild animals for biometric and systematic assessment; 5. veterinary procedures which to not cause pain, suffering, distress or permanent health impairment equal to or more invasive than the insertion of a needle. Hence, the study entitled “The bacteriological examination of conjunctival swabs in healthy Silesian adult horses and foals.” does not require the approval of the Ethics Committee. All procedures were performed during the study with owner consent. CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION: Not applicable. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. None of the aforementioned companies had any direct or indirect involvement in the development of the manuscript and the works reflects the opinions of the authors. PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Płoneczka-Janeczko K, Armstrong E, Siemieniuch-Tartanus M, Magdziarz M. Remodelling of the healthy foal's conjunctival microbiome in the first two months of life. J Vet Res 2025 Mar;69(1):131-140.
    doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2025-0001pubmed: 40144056google scholar: lookup
  2. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12010021pubmed: 39852896google scholar: lookup
  3. Santibáñez R, Lara F, Barros TM, Mardones E, Cuadra F, Thomson P. Ocular Microbiome in a Group of Clinically Healthy Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 7;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12080943pubmed: 35454190google scholar: lookup
  4. Fraczkowska K, Zak-Bochenek A, Siwinska N, Rypula K, Ploneczka-Janeczko K. Aerobic Commensal Conjunctival Microflora in Healthy Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 17;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12060756pubmed: 35327153google scholar: lookup
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