Evaluation of the bacterial microflora of the conjunctival sac of healthy dogs and dogs with atopic dermatitis.

The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate and compare the bacterial microflora from the conjunctival sac of dogs with atopic dermatitis and healthy dogs. Twenty-one atopic dogs without clinical and/or cytopathological signs of bacterial blepharoconjunctivitis and 21 breed-matched healthy dogs were enrolled. Under topical anaesthesia, the inferior conjunctival sac of one eye was scraped twice. Material was collected with a Kimura spatula, spread over a slide and stained with a Diff Quick(®) -type stain (Medion Diagnostics GmbH, Düdingen, Switzerland) for cytological examination. An area of 0.5 cm(2) was examined at ×1000 magnification, and the types and numbers of cells and bacteria were recorded. A bacterial swab was collected and inoculated into culture media for the growth of aerobic bacteria. Before sampling, each atopic dog was evaluated for severity of cutaneous lesions, pruritus and conjunctival inflammation. Significant differences were observed between atopic and healthy dogs for the presence of bacteria on cytology (P = 0.015), keratinized (P = 0.001) and nonkeratinized epithelial cells (P = 0.013), eosinophils (P = 0.019) and lymphocytes (P = 0.008). Bacteria were recovered from 12 atopic dogs and three healthy dogs (P = 0.004). Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most commonly isolated species in atopic dogs (seven of 12). In atopic dogs, no significant relation was found between conjunctival bacterial colonization (on cytology and culture) and the severity of any of the clinical parameters. This study suggests differences in conjunctival bacterial colonization and cytological features between atopic and healthy dogs.

[1]  E. Veldhuizen,et al.  Altered cutaneous expression of beta-defensins in dogs with atopic dermatitis. , 2009, Molecular immunology.

[2]  C. Hart,et al.  Staphylococcal colonization of mucosal and lesional skin sites in atopic and healthy dogs. , 2009, Veterinary dermatology.

[3]  L. Wieler,et al.  Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolated from clinical samples of companion animals and equidaes. , 2009, Veterinary microbiology.

[4]  N. Novak.  New insights into the mechanism and management of allergic diseases: atopic dermatitis , 2009, Allergy.

[5]  L. Pelosini,et al.  Antibacterial Activity of Preservative-Free Topical Anesthetic Drops in Current Use in Ophthalmology Departments , 2009, Cornea.

[6]  T. Olivry,et al.  Determination of CADESI-03 thresholds for increasing severity levels of canine atopic dermatitis. , 2008, Veterinary dermatology.

[7]  Qingshan Pan,et al.  Investigation of bacterial microorganisms in the conjunctival sac of clinically normal dogs and dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Beijing, China. , 2008, Veterinary ophthalmology.

[8]  Yoshikazu Tanaka,et al.  Reclassification of Phenotypically Identified Staphylococcus intermedius Strains , 2007, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[9]  S. Nardoni,et al.  Occurrence, distribution and population size of Malassezia pachydermatis on skin and mucosae of atopic dogs. , 2007, Veterinary microbiology.

[10]  T. Olivry,et al.  Validation of CADESI-03, a severity scale for clinical trials enrolling dogs with atopic dermatitis. , 2007, Veterinary dermatology.

[11]  D. Mellor,et al.  Adherence by Staphylococcus intermedius to canine corneocytes: a preliminary study comparing noninflamed and inflamed atopic canine skin. , 2006, Veterinary dermatology.

[12]  Barbara S Baker,et al.  The role of microorganisms in atopic dermatitis , 2006, Clinical and experimental immunology.

[13]  J. Declercq.  Pustular calicivirus dermatitis on the abdomen of two cats following routine ovariectomy. , 2005, Veterinary dermatology.

[14]  K. Thoday,et al.  Adherence of Staphylococcus intermedius to corneocytes of healthy and atopic dogs: effect of pyoderma, pruritus score, treatment and gender. , 2005, Veterinary dermatology.

[15]  M. Rocha,et al.  Higher incidence of Malassezia pachydermatis in the eyes of dogs with corneal ulcer than in healthy dogs. , 2004, Veterinary microbiology.

[16]  E. Chryssanthou,et al.  No apparent association between periocular and ocular microcolonization and the degree of inflammation in patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis , 2004, Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

[17]  N. Monteiro-Riviere,et al.  Electron Microscopic Observations of Stratum Corneum Intercellular Lipids in Normal and Atopic Dogs , 2001, Veterinary pathology.

[18]  D. DeBoer,et al.  The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (XV): fundamental concepts in clinical diagnosis. , 2001, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[19]  D. DeBoer,et al.  The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (XIV): clinical manifestations of canine atopic dermatitis. , 2001, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[20]  D. DeBoer,et al.  The ACVD task force on canine atopic dermatitis (XII): the relationship of cutaneous infections to the pathogenesis and clinical course of canine atopic dermatitis. , 2001, Veterinary immunology and immunopathology.

[21]  Y. Tano,et al.  A high incidence of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in the external eyes of patients with atopic dermatitis. , 2000, Ophthalmology.

[22]  N. Mcewan,et al.  Adherence by Staphylococcus intermedius to canine keratinocytes in atopic dermatitis. , 2000, Research in veterinary science.

[23]  M. Furue,et al.  Reduced amount of secretory component of IgA secretion in tears of patients with atopic dermatitis. , 1999, Journal of dermatological science.

[24]  M. Doğru,et al.  Impression cytology in atopic dermatitis. , 1998, Ophthalmology.

[25]  Noble,et al.  Aspects of nasal, oropharyngeal and anal carriage of in normal dogs and dogs with pyoderma. , 1998, Veterinary dermatology.

[26]  D. Lloyd,et al.  Population sizes and frequency of staphylococci at mucocutaneous sites on healthy dogs , 1992, Veterinary Record.

[27]  C. P. Moore.  Qualitative tear film disease. , 1990, The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice.

[28]  D. Lloyd,et al.  The role of allergy in the development of canine pyoderma , 1989 .

[29]  Gerding Pa,et al.  Pathogenic bacteria and fungi associated with external ocular diseases in dogs: 131 cases (1981-1986). , 1988 .

[30]  C. Foil,et al.  Temporal study of staphylococcal species on healthy dogs. , 1988, American journal of veterinary research.

[31]  L. Devriese,et al.  The anal region as a main carrier site of Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus canis in dogs , 1987, Veterinary Record.

[32]  T. Liesegang,et al.  Ocular complications of atopic dermatitis. , 1984, Canadian journal of ophthalmology. Journal canadien d'ophtalmologie.

[33]  Severin Ga,et al.  Cytology of normal and inflamed conjunctivas in dogs and cats. , 1977 .

[34]  P. McDonald,et al.  Microbial flora of normal canine conjunctivae. , 1976, The Journal of small animal practice.

[35]  J. Leyden,et al.  Staphylococcus aureus in the lesions of atopic dermatitis , 1974, The British journal of dermatology.

[36]  M. Wyman,et al.  Conjunctival flora of clinically normal dogs. , 1972, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[37]  W. Noble.  Skin carriage of the Micrococcaceae , 1969, Journal of clinical pathology.

[38]  L. Beck,et al.  Atopic dermatitis: a disease caused by innate immune defects? , 2009, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[39]  C. Lok,et al.  Ocular complications of atopic dermatitis in children. , 2006, Acta dermato-venereologica.

[40]  M. Rocha,et al.  Survey of bacterial microorganisms in the conjunctival sac of clinically normal dogs and dogs with ulcerative keratitis in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. , 2005, Veterinary ophthalmology.

[41]  Y. Inoue.  Ocular Infections in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis , 2002, International ophthalmology clinics.

[42]  D. Scott.  CHAPTER 8 – Skin Immune System and Allergic Skin Diseases , 2001 .

[43]  L. Matter,et al.  Staphylococcus aureus skin colonization in atopic dermatitis patients. , 1985, Dermatologica.

[44]  Severin Ga,et al.  Survey of conjunctival flora in dogs with clinical signs of external eye disease. , 1978 .

[45]  K. Thoday,et al.  Edinburgh Research Explorer Population genetic structure of the Staphylococcus intermedius group: Insights into agr diversification and the emergence of methicillin-resistant strains , 2022 .