Emmett B. Shotts, Jr.1; F. Deborah Talkington1; Wayne Jones2
Abstract
A study was made of the microflora associated with the spiracles of a group of twenty captive dolphins. The results of this investigation indicate that a number of both Gram-positive and -negative organisms may be found at this anatomical site. Coagulase positive Staphylococci (60%) was the most common organism isolated. Other organisms included alpha streptococci (2.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5%), Pseudomonas putrifaciens (5%), Corynebacteria (2.5%) and Candida spp. (47%). These flora will be discussed as they relate to comparable flora from similar sites in domestic animals.
Notes
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Spiracle Flora
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|
Gram Positive
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% of Animals
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-- Micrococcus
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20% of the group had this
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|
-- Staph aureus
|
55
|
|
-- Staph epidermidis
|
30
|
|
-- α hemolytic strep
|
40
|
|
-- Υ - hemolytic strep
|
40
|
|
Gram Negative
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|
-- Pseudomonas sp.(putida-like)
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65% of the group had this
|
|
-- Pseudomonas putrefaciens
|
50
|
|
-- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
|
35
|
|
-- Flavobacterium sp.
|
30
|
|
-- Aeromonas hydrophila
|
30
|
|
-- Enterobacter sp.
|
25
|
|
-- Pleisomonas shigelloides
|
25
|
|
There were many gram negative rods
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|
Candida sp.
|
90
|
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-- Candida albicans only
|
50
|
|
-- Candida stellatoidea only
|
5
|
|
-- Candida krusei only
|
17
|
The cranial portion of the blowhole is a trap for bacteria. The mucosal membranes get seeded with bacteria and exhibit a bacterial flora. This is a rich nutrient area. The bacteria isolated from the blowhole likely have little import as disease-causing agents.