SUMMARY The aerobic bacterial flora from the genital tracts of 143 bitches and 51 dogs was investigated. Beta haemolytic streptococci (group G), Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were among the organisms isolated from normal bitches in heat, abnormal bitches and normal dogs. Repeated sampling of two bitches during oestrus, and the dog to which they were mated, showed that bacteria were transmitted from bitch to dog, but did not become established. Guarded swab samples taken from the vagina collected less bacteria than samples from the vestibule. Numerous bacteria were seen in vaginal smears taken from bitches during oestrus, but numbers fell rapidly with the appearance of leucocytes in the smear at the onset of metoestrus.

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The conjunctival sacs of 100 healthy adult ewes and 20 lambs and 76 adult ewes affected by ovine keratoconjunctivitis (OKC) were examined microbiologically. Branhamella ovis was the only organism regularly isolated from healthy ewes and lambs, Mycoplasma conjunctivae was isolated from the conjunctival sac of nine ewes but its occurrence was not associated with clinical signs of ovine keratoconjunctivitis. Mycoplasma conjunctivae and Branhamella ovis were isolated significantly more often from eyes affected by OKC than from unaffected eyes.

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