Bacteria Flora Of The Anterior Genitalia Of The Sahelian Doe In Maiduguri-Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The genital tract of animals especially the posterior part is known to harbour non-specific bacteria that are sometimes called the “normal flora”. Although the type of bacteria present and the role they play is not well understood, under stressful conditions they may cause disease (Hirsh, 1990). A variety of bacteria have been isolated from the genitalia of the doe and these include Staphylococci, Streptococci, Actinomyces, Pseudomonas, E. coli, Mycoplasma and Brucella species (Amin, 1988; Fasanya et al.,1987; Ababneh and Degefa,2006; Safiriyu et al., 2006). These organisms have been associated with disease conditions of the genitalia of animals. Adams, 1975 reported that isolation of pathogenic Staphylococci under normal and disease conditions of the genital tract revealed that they may be natural inhabitants of these organs but under conditions of stress such as following lambing, abortions etc they may cause metritis and infertility. Isolation of potentially pathogenic organisms from the normal genitalia of live and dead ewes has been reported previously (Hopwood, 1956; Amin 1988). Most of the reported cases were made from apparently healthy animals and in the absence of experimental infection; the true role of many of the isolates in reproductive disease has remained in doubt. Thus, this study was carried out to determine the ‘normal\' aerobic bacterial flora of the genitalia of apparently healthy sahelian does during different phases of the reproductive cycle.

Keywords: Anterior genitalia, Bacteria, Sahelian doe, Reproductive phases

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (2) 2007 pp. 60-62