Bacteriology of the Anterior Genitalia of the Domestic House Cat: Aetiology of Non-Specific Infection

Abstract

The bacteriology of the anterior genitalia of the domestic house cat was determined using vaginal swabs collected from sixty apparently healthy female domestic cats (20 kittens, 20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant adults). The swabs were streaked on blood agar, Mac Conkey agar and eosin methylene blue agar plates which were all incubated at 37^oC for 24 – 48 hours. Biochemical tests were also used to determine the bacterial isolates. The species of bacteria isolated were; coagulase negative Staphylococci 31 (25.2%); α-haemolytic Streptococci 21 (17.1%); Actinomyces pyogenes 21 (17.1%); E. coli 16 (13.0%); Bacillus species 12 (9.7%); β-haemolytic Streptococci 9 (7.3%); Proteus species 8 (6.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus5 (4.1%). These organisms could therefore be regarded as part of the normal aerobic vaginal flora of domestic cats found in the semi-arid region of north -eastern Nigeria.

Keywords: Domestic cats, Aerobic bacteria, Anterior genitalia, Semi-arid region, Nigeria.