Isolation and identification of some enteropathogenic bacteria in sheep with special reference to clostridium perfringens and their susceptibility to different antimicrobials and garlic oil

Abstract EN

Sheep and lambs are threatened by a number of infectious diseases, among which enterotoxaemia that caused by Clostridium perfringens and other aerobic bacteria.

A total of 54 faecal swabs (10 diarrhoeic, 44 apparently healthy) were collected from sheep of different ages in different localities in Alexandria governorate and examined bacteriologically.

The results revealed that Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be isolated in a percentage of 44.5, 31.5, 11.1 and 9.3% respectively.

Pathogenicity tests were carried out for aerobic bacteria and toxigenic typing of C.

perfringens by multiplex PCR was performed which revealed that 25% of isolated C.

perfringens were type A.

An in vitro sensitivity test of C.

perfringens type A was carried out against different antimicrobials and garlic oil, the results showed that it was sensitive to Ciprofloxacin (5μg), Amoxicillin/Clavulaniacid (10μg), Erythromycin (15 μg), Flumequine (30μg), Gentamycin (10μg), Chlormphenicol (30μg), Vancomycin (μg); Nitrofurantoin (300μg), intermediately sensitive to tetracycline (30μg), Enerofloxacin (5μg), and resistant to Amoxicillin (10μg), Neomycin (30μg) Streptomycin (10μg), Trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole (25μg) and garlic oil.

Proper hygienic measures in the sheep farms, Vaccination of dams at last stage of parturition against Clostridium perfringen type A for control of enterotoxaemia in sheep, feeding animals with balanced ration are recommended to avoid the infection of sheep with such enteropathogens.