title: Comparative study of the microbial profile from bilateral canine otitis externa.
abstract: Fifty dogs with bilateral otitis externa were studied over a 10-month period. The exudates of both external ears were obtained, using sterile swabs, and microorganisms were isolated according to standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus intermedius was done by the agar diffusion method. There was bacterial and/or fungal growth in all of the samples. These were all polymicrobial infections. Anaerobic bacteria were not isolated in any sample. The most common pathogens isolated were S. intermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed in the isolation pattern between the right and left ears in 34 of the 50 animals (68%). High resistance rates of S. intermedius strains to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and clindamycin were found. The results suggest that in bilateral canine otitis externa, each ear should be cultured separately and considered as separate units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, DPML/UFC 60441-750 Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. lisveterinaria@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Lis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Carlos A L
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Raimunda S N
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Brilhante
authors.forename: Cibele B M
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D026141:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal; D005260:Female; D008290:Malassezia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents