The study aimed to find out the frequency of microrganisms in the external ear canal in healthy cats. Fifty adult male (26) and female (24) short hair cats were utilized for the purpose, and they were divided according to living enviroment (Group l - indoor and Group 2 - outdoor). All animals were submitted to sedation prior to physical and otoscopic examinations in order to confirm to be healthy. Samples were obtained from ear canal by use of Buck curetes and sterile cotton sticks for microbiological investigation. In cats of Group 1, Otodects cynotis were observed in 4%. In 72% of the animals yeasts and molds were found (Cladosporium sp 66.6%, Malassezia sp 40%, Penicillium sp 33%, Aspergillus sp 33.3%, Rhodotorula sp 20%, Mycelia sp 13.3%, and 6.6% for Alternaria sp, Aureobasidium sp, Ryzopus sp and Trichosporon sp), finally, m 64% of the samples, was detected Staphylococcus spp (81.2%), Pseudomonas sp (12.5%), Klebsiella sp (12.5%), and 6,2% for Acinetobacter sp. Bacilos difteroides, Enterobacter sp, Lactobacillus spp. In Group 2, O. cynotis was isolated in 36% of cats, and in 96% of the animals wasfound Malassezia sp (54.1%), Aspergillus sp (33.3%), Penicillium (33.3%), Microsporum sp (29.1%), Cladosporium sp (16.6%), Trichoderma sp (12.5%) Alternaria sp (8.3%), Phoma sp (8.3%), Epicoccum sp (4.1%), Neurospora sp (4.1%), Mycelia sp (4.3%), Rhodotorula sp (4.1%). In 20 out of 25 (80%), at least one bacterial microrganism was isolated (Staphylococcus sp 75%, Klebsiela sp 20.8%, Bacilos difteroides 12.5%, Pseudomonas sp 8.3%, and 4.1% for Acynetobacter sp, Enterobacter and Escherichia sp).
microflora; ear; cat; feline
