Microbiological characterization and antibacterial susceptibility of the bacterial pathogens recovered from cats with ophthalmic diseases

Abstract

Main eye infections are typically concerned with corneal, conjunctival, and eyelid diseases, either mono-or poly-microbial infections. This study was carried out to identify bacterial isolates and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in cats with ophthalmic diseases. A total of 78 samples were collected from 64 cats of different ages and both sexes, who had various ophthalmic problems. Samples were collected at the time of initial presentation, during follow up, and after complete recovery. The study revealed that 73 (93.5%) samples were positive among the examined samples. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were involved in ocular infections, yet Gram-positive bacteria were more prominent. Corynebacterium spp. (n=27), Staphylococcus aureus (n=15), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=10), Streptococcus pyogenes (n=6), Enterococcus faecalis (n=4), E. coli (n=8), Citrobacter fruendii (n=1) and Pseudomonas spp. (n=2) were isolated from infected cases. Multi-drug resistant isolates were numerous, with MRSA and ESβLs present in most of the isolates. 12 strains of S. aureus were MRSAs, 6 strains of S. epidermidis were MRSEs, 7 strains of family Enterobacteriaceae were ESβLs. Finally, 52% of the recovered isolates were multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains. Selection of specific antibacterial therapy according to laboratory confirmation of susceptibility patterns should be implemented rapidly and efficiently. Keywords: bacteria, cat, eye, MDR, MRSA, ESβLs.