ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION & ANTIBIOGRAM OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH CAT ORAL CAVITY: A NEGLECTED ISSUE

Abstract

This research work was conducted to isolate, identify and antibiotic sensitivity profiling of bacteria found in oral cavity of pet cat in Dhaka city. A total number of 40 samples were collected aseptically from Central Veterinary Hospital (CVH), Dhaka and transported to National Institute of Biotechnology laboratory, Savar. Total viable count (TVC) of bacteria from all samples (n = 40) was determined. Hundred percent prevalence of organisms was noted with the highest TVC, 1.199×10 ii

13 and the lowest TVC, 3.60×10 2 . The isolation and identification of bacterial genera/species were performed by cultural characterist ics, Gram’s staining, biochemical tests and molecular identification to some extent. The prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were 100%, 5 %, 57.5% and 7.5 % respectively. Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli were confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Antibiotic sensitivity test by disc diffusion method was performed against seven different antibiotics. E. coli isolates showed the highest sensitive to gentamycin (80%) followed by azithromycin (70%) and the highest resistant to ampicillin. Isolates of Salmonella isolates were found to be highest sensitive against gentamycin (100%) followed by azithromycin (50%). Highest resistant pattern of Salmonella spp. was showed against ampicillin (100%). Salmonella spp. showed 50% resistant to erythromycin, streptomycin and tetracycline. S. aureus showed the highest sensitivity to gentamycin (80%), followed by cotrimoxazole

(60%) and the highest resistance pattern was shown against ampicillin (100%), followed by erythromycin (80%) and tetracycline (60%). S. epidermidis showed the highest (100%) resistant against ampicillin and the highest (100%) sensitive to gentamycin. The findings from current study recommend that pet cats in Dhaka city contain multi-drug resistant E.coli, Salmonella spp., S. aureus. Only S. epidermidis was not found as multidrug resistant. This multi-drug resistant phenomenon can cause a potential public health hazard through transmission to humans by direct contact or the food chain or the evolved way of life.