DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2016.v03i02.012

Pages: 140-146

The results obtained in the current study have increased knowledge on bacterial infections of skin wounds in equines in Sharg Alneel, Khartoum State. The study was cross-sectional, carried out in the period from October to December, 2012 and employed with a multistage sampling strategy with two hierarchical levels of selection. It revealed 10 different species of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria including; Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus citreus, Streptococcus species, Pseudomonas species, E. coli, Clostridium species, Shigella species and Klebsiella species. Staphylococcus species were the most prevalent bacteria. However, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were encountered in 40.0% of the swab samples with a 95% CI ranged from 24.82 to 55.18 whilst Staphylococcus citreus was found in 25.0% of the swab samples with a 95% CI ranged from 11.58 to 38.42. Wound infection in equines was probably associated with age. It was more prevalent in the age group of 1 - 5 years old and it was mostly observed in the back area and the two sides of the abdomen. According to drug sensitivity patterns, Staph aureus, Staph albus and Staph citrus were almost sensitive to all antibiotics tested where as other microorganisms were showed different degrees of sensitivity and resistance. The largest inhibition zone (6mm) was showed by Ciprofloxacin against Staph citrus. Management practices and the variation in the number of tested samples might have resulted in the higher susceptibility of donkeys compared to horses, and it was interesting to note that almost the same infection rates were encountered in the two areas covered in this survey. It is recommended that saddles and harnesses used for draught animals should be improved to reduce the risks of damaging the underneath skin and as result wounds and wounds infections.