Normal Conjunctival Flora in the North American Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Abstract

We documented the normal conjunctival bacterial flora from 17 opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and 10 raccoons (Procyon lotor) trapped in Manhattan, Kansas (USA) from November 1999 to January 2000. Both raccoons and opossums were free of apparent ocular disease. The inferior conjunctival sacs of each animal were swabbed for aerobic bacterial and Mycoplasma culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia detection. All conjunctival samples were positive for one or more species of aerobic bacteria. The most common isolate from opossums was Staphylococcus spp. Other isolates included Streptococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Enterococcus faecalis. The most common isolate in raccoons was Bacillus spp. Other isolates included Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., non-hemolytic Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus faecalis. Mycoplasma culture was negative in samples from opossums and raccoons. Evidence of Mycoplasma and Chlamydia presence was detected by PCR.

Bacterial microbiota of the ocular surface of captive and free‐ranging microbats:Desmodus rotundus,Diameus youngiandArtibeus lituratus

“…Ocular microbiota has been described in many different species of animals . Results of this investigation demonstrate that the microbiota of the eye surface of microbats is composed of a diverse bacterial spectrum.…”

“…Ocular microbiota has been described in many different species of animals. [8][9][10] Results of this investigation demonstrate that the microbiota of the eye surface of microbats is composed of a diverse bacterial spectrum. No other studies of ocular microbiota of bats could be found; thus, these results could not be directly compared with other such studies.…”

“…Studies of the bacterial microbiota of clinically healthy eyes of various animal species have revealed a diversity of microorganisms . The normal eye's surface microbiota has been reported in several wild mammals such as nonhuman primates, beaver, opossum, coati, crab‐eating raccoon, ferret, and many others.…”

Procyonidae, Viverridae, Hyenidae, Herpestidae, Eupleridae, and Prionodontidae

“…One study detected Mycoplasma sp. in conjunctival swabs of healthy, freeranging raccoons, so it is unknown if disease is the result of opportunistic infection of a commensal organism (Pinard et al, 2002).…”

Prevalence, Genotype Richness, and Coinfection Patterns of Hemotropic Mycoplasmas in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) on Environmentally Protected and Urbanized Barrier Islands

“…However, mycoplasma (including hemoplasma) infections of raccoons (Procyon lotor) are poorly studied (26). In 1971, Haemobartonella procyoni was described in raccoons from Maryland, USA (27).…”