Isolation of Aerobic Bacteria Associated with Fistulous Withers in Donkeys

Abstract

Working animals provide an essential transport resource in developing countries worldwide. Many of these animals are owned by poor people and work in harsh environments, so their welfare is a cause for concern. The present study was carried out to assess the welfare of working donkeys in Khartoum State, using clinical examination and a questionnaire survey , to identify and quantify factors associated with the presence of wounds in donkeys working in the transport of goods and to isolate and identify aerobic bacteria associated with fistulous withers. One hundred fifty male donkey were randomly chosen. They were used for work and found in markets and along the roads in Elsagana, Elremila, Mayo, Halaib, Elsouk Elshabi Omdurman and Shambat. The study was carried out between December 2010 and May 2011.The results showed that improper harness and saddle were the major causes of injuries in donkeys. The prevalence of injuries was influenced by the type of work carried out, and the body lesions occurred predominantly in the areas of the breast/shoulder, withers and girth, while Lesions on the head, neck, flank and tail base were seen in less than 10% of the animals. From 150 donkeys examined, only 60 of them were had fistulous withers, and their collected samples were cultured on blood agar , nutrient agar and MacConkey’s agar. Bacterial isolates were identified to the species level, according to their cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. A total of one hundred and forty two isolates were obtained and identified as Gram positive bacteria. These isolates were belonging to Bacillus spp. (48.6%), Staphylococcus spp. (38.7%), Corynebacterium spp. (5.6%), Streptococcus spp. (4.3%) and Actinomyces spp. (2.8%),which represents potential pathogens that induced fistulous withers. The following Please purchase PDFcamp Printer on http://www.verypdf.com/ to remove this watermark. v species were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium pseudotuberclosis, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Actinomyces bovis and Actinomyces pyogenes, which might lead to the chronicity of the disease.