The study of aerobic bacterial flora of the upper respiratory tract of equines from Jammu and Kashmir region of India

Aim: To isolate aerobic bacterial micro flora residing in the upper respiratory tract of equines used by the pilgrims and tourists in Jammu & Kashmir. Materials and Methods: 88 apparently healthy equines and 53 equines with respiratory tract diseases were used in this study. Swab samples were collected from the upper respiratory tract of equines. Isolation and identification of the bacteria was conducted under aerobic conditions. Each of the sample processed yielded at least one type of bacteria species. Results: A total of 321 bacterial isolates were recovered from both groups of equines. The majority of the isolates were Gram positive (84.11%) and the rest were Gram negative (15.88%). Bacterial isolates identified in order of the magnitude were Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (17.44%), Micrococcus spp. (9.96%), Corynebacterium (9.65%), Staphylococcus intermedius (9.65%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.72%), Bacillus spp. (7.16%), Streptococcus pneumonia (5.60%), Staphylococcus chromogens (5.60%), Streptococcus equismilis (5.29%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.29%), Rhodococcus equi (3.73%), Escherichia coli (3.73%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3.42%), Proteus vulgaris (3.42%), and Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (1.24%). Conclusion: The present study reveals the predominance of Gram positive bacteria in both healthy and diseased animals. Bacteria were recovered at a higher rate from diseased equines than from apparently healthy animals. Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus was mainly found to be associated with respiratory tract infections.