The bacterial and fungal flora of the external ear canal of dogs with otitis externa and of healthy dogs were studied. The most frequently isolated microorganism from otitic ears was Staphylococcus intermedius (58.8%), followed by Malassezia pachydermatis (30.9%), Streptococcus canis (29.9%), Proteus spp. (14.4%) and Escherichia coli (10.3%). A statistical analysis of our results showed that the prevalence of these microorganisms is significant in dogs with otitis externa. Furthermore, the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolated strains were determined. Majority of all bacterial isolates were most susceptible to gentamicin. Malassezia pachydermatis, the most prevalent yeast in this study, showed an excellent level of susceptibility to all antifungal agents tested.

To determine the prevalence of Streptococcus canis in dogs and cats, a total of 926 swabs were examined bacteriologically in the period from 2003 to 2005. Eighty-six isolates obtained from various anatomical locations were further characterized for their phenotypic properties. The most frequently isolated biotype produced phosphatase, leucine amidopeptidase, arginine dihydrolase, alpha-D-and beta-D-galactosidase and fermented lactose and ribose. Additional identification by species-specific amplification of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region was consistent with S. canis. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin G and ampicillin. The least effective antimicrobial agent was found to be tetracycline (only 33.8% of susceptible strains). Prevalence, S. canis, biochemical properties, 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region

Contamination of cell cultures by mycoplasmas is a very common phenomenon. As they can substantially alter cell metabolism and potentially spread to all cell cultures in laboratory, their early detection is necessary. One of the fastest and cheapest methods of mycoplasma detection relies on the direct staining of mycoplasmas’ DNA by DAPI or Hoechst dyes. Although this method is easy and fast to perform, it suffers from the low signal provided by these dyes compared to the nuclear DNA. Therefore, the reporter cell lines are used for cultivation of mycoplasmas before DAPI or the Hoechst staining step. In the study presented, we have developed and tested a new immunofluorescence assay for the detection of mycoplasmas. The method is based on the enzymatic labeling using DNA polymerase I and modified nucleotides utilizing nicks in the mycoplasmas’ DNA. Modified nucleotides are incorporated into mycoplasmas’ DNA and subsequently visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. The developed approach is independent of the mycoplasma strain, does not intensely stain nuclear DNA, does not stain other bacteria, and provides higher sensitivity than the approach based on the direct labeling using DAPI or Hoechst dyes.

Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of five natural substances against 50 clinical isolates of Mycoplasma hominis. Methods and Results. The in vitro activity of selected natural compounds, cinnamon bark oil, anethole, carvacrol, eugenol and guaiazulene, was investigated against 50 M. hominis isolates cultivated from cervical swabs by the broth dilution method. All showed valuable antimicrobial activity against the tested isolates. Oil from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (MBC 90 = 500 μg/mL) however was found to be the most effective. Carvacrol (MBC 90 = 600 μg/mL) and eugenol (MBC 90 = 1000 μg/mL) also possessed strong antimycoplasmal activity. Conclusions. The results indicate that cinnamon bark oil, carvacrol and eugenol have strong antimycoplasmal activity and the potential for use as antimicrobial agents in the treatment of mycoplasmal infections.

Members of the genus Mycoplasma are parasitic bacteria that are widespread in nature. Several Mycoplasma species are important causative agents of various infections of mucosal surfaces in humans, especially in the urogenital or respiratory tracts. Pathogenetic mechanisms of mycoplasmas are intensively studied. The "gold" standard of mycoplasma detection is cultivation, which is very difficult and time-consuming. The other options for identifying mycoplasmas include direct antigen detection or molecular-biology methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, DNA-hybridization and sequencing. Mycoplasmas are naturally resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics because of lack of cell wall. Tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones are regarded as the first choice in the treatment of mycoplasma infections. Several reports have documented resistance of mycoplasmas to macrolides worldwide. This report summarizes our current knowledge of laboratory diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma infections.