Investigation of eye flora in cats infected with Herpesvirus and Calicivirus

Mojtaba Mohammadzadeh Vazifeh; Gazelle Safavi Haas; Nakisa Sohrabi Haghdoost; Ghazal Aftab

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i4.16318

Mojtaba Mohammadzadeh Vazifeh Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Basic Sciences and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
Gazelle Safavi Haas Department of Clinical Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Nakisa Sohrabi Haghdoost Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Ghazal Aftab Department of Clinical Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i4.16318

Keywords: Ocular surface; Cat; Herpesvirus; Calicivirus; Microbiota

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The ocular surface is perpetually exposed to the external environment, rendering it suscep- tible to microbial contamination. The ocular surface microbiota consists of non-pathogenic microorganisms that inhabit the conjunctiva and cornea. This study's objective was to extensively review the prevalence of bacterial and fungal organisms in the conjunctiva of healthy and diseased cats. (Herpes- and Calici-infected groups).

Materials and Methods: The current study was performed on 240 cats that had visited veterinary health centers (Tehran, Iran) for examination. Sterile swabs from each cat's eyes were investigated for microbiological assessment. After sample collection, viral pathogens (Herpes and Calici viruses) were isolated and identified using the PCR method. The ages of the investigated group were 3.76, 3.93, and 4.15 months.

Results: The highest frequency of bacteria in the normal, Herpes-infected/Calici-infected, and Herpes/Calici-infected groups were associated with Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylo- coccus intermedius, respectively. In addition, it was found that the high prevalence of fungal microorganisms in the isolated samples was related to yeasts, Aspergillus (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger), and Penicillium species.

Conclusion: Bacterial prevalence was significantly higher in all groups than the prevalence of fungi in the eyes of cats. The statistical comparison between the study groups regarding microbial and fungal frequency showed that significant differences were found between them, such that the frequency was higher in all disease groups, against the control group. In addition, a significant relation was observed between the Herpes-infected and Calici-infected groups regarding microbial and fungal prevalence.