title: Survey of bacterial microorganisms in the conjunctival sac of clinically normal dogs and dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ocular microflora in dogs has not been established in north-east Brazil. Thus, the main aim of this research was to determine the bacterial microorganisms in the conjunctival sac of clinically normal dogs and dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 60 healthy dogs, 15 dogs with unilateral corneal ulcer, and three dogs with bilateral corneal ulcers. Procedure Samples were taken by a calibrated platinum loop (1 microL) placed directly onto the conjunctival sac and on sterile blood agar. The clinical specimens were incubated at 37 degrees C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2 for 48 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 120 samples from healthy dogs, only 47 (39%) had positive culture for bacteria, while all of the specimens from eyes with corneal ulcer were positive for bacterial growth. The group of dogs with corneal ulcer had a higher (P < 0.05) number of colony-forming units (CFU) per plate than the group of healthy animals. Of the 59 isolates from healthy eyes, only nine (15.3%) had more than 50 CFU per plate, while in the group of dogs with corneal ulcer, 23 (62.2%) of the 37 isolates presented more than 50 CFU per plate. In both groups Gram-positive bacteria (86.5%) predominated over Gram-negative (13.5%). Staphylococcus spp. was the most frequently isolated genus and S. intermedius predominated in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study are directly applicable to initiate rational, preventive and therapeutic measures with greater accuracy in dogs with corneal ulcer.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Science, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. lena@inteq.com.br
authors.forename: Marilena R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Marcos F G
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Erika H S
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Marília D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Girão
authors.forename: André J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Maria F S
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: José J C
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sidrim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000382:microbiology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D013234:Stem Cells