Devrajani et al.
IJAVMS Vol. 4, issue 4, 2010:96-104
Occurrence and Prevalence of Bacterial Species as Identified from Camel Wounds
Kamla Devrajani, 1*Muhammad Abubakar, Sarfaraz Ali Fazlani, Faraz Shahid, Qurban Ali Shah
and Imran Rashid
Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Sciences,
Uthal-Balochistan, Pakistan; 1 National Veterinary Laboratory, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Corresponding Author: *[email protected]
Abstract
A total of 80 samples were collected from male, female and young calves of camel and tested for bacterial
contamination. Twelve different bacterial species were identified from wound samples of camels. The
species were Actinobacillus ligneirsi, Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter species, Corynebacterium pygenes,
Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozeanea, Pasturella pneumotropica, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella
arizona, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus intermedius. Out of the
80 samples studied, 46 were from males, 12 from females and 22 from young calves. The percentage
prevalence of bacterial infection in open and close wounds was also demonstrated. The incidence of
infection in open wounds of males, females and young calves was 83.33, 100, and 88.88%, respectively,
while the incidence of infection in close wounds of the above animals was observed as 82.12, 60.00 and
84.61%, respectively. A survey on mixed infections in wound samples of camels was also carried-out
during this work. The mixed infections in the samples of males, females and young calves were recorded
as 76.08, 66.66 and 81.81%, respectively. Morphologically, these varied from cocci to rod shape and were
gram-positive and negative. Some produced spherical, swarming, and spreading colonies while fewer
produced α and β hemolytic colonies of red blood cells on blood agar. The percentage occurrence of
individual bacterial species in wound samples was also investigated. The incidence of Actinobacillus
ligneirsi, Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter species, Corynebacterium pygenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
ozeanea, Pasturella pneumotropica, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella arizona, Staphylococcus
aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Staphylococcus intermedius in wounds of camels was 4.47, 5.97,
2.98, 5.97, 17.91, 7.46, 5.97, 8.95, 5.97, 14.92, 1.49, and 17.91%, respectively.
Key Words: Prevalence, Wounds, Camel and Bacterial Species.
Introduction
The total population of livestock includes sheep, goats, cattle and buffaloes in the order of 24.2, 49.1, 23.3
and 22.4 million respectively, and about 5.2 million include camels, donkeys, horses and mules together.
However, camel population in Pakistan is about 0.8 million. The camel is one of the most important
animals in the sense that its milk, meat, hair, wool, and skin have a great economical value. It has been
reported that there are about 18.8 million camels throughout the world, from which the dromedary camels
account for 95% and the rest 5% are Bactrian camels (two-humped) present mainly in the cold desert areas
of Asia. One humped camel ranks 4th in the world in the camel population. It constitutes about 26% of the
total camel population in Asia, which are located in the Cholistan (Punjab), Thar (sub-urban areas of
Sindh), Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP), Zhob, and Sibbi districts of Balochistan. However, only fifteen breeds
of camels are identified so far in Pakistan3.
Camel often receives wounds on different parts of its body. Wounds on skin are of two types: close and
open wounds. Close wounds are those where there is no breach in continuity of skin/mucous membrane,
though the underlying tissues are damaged such as, contusion, bruise, and haematoma etc. Open wounds
are those in which there is breach in the continuity of the skin. Open wounds are classified as incised,
lacerated, punctured, penetrating, perforating, gunshot, abrasions, aseptic, contaminated, granulating and
ulcerating wounds. These various types of wounds get contaminated by a big population of bacterial flora
such as, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium diphtheriae, Pseudomonas species,
Clostridium welchii type A, Clostridium septique, and Pseudomonas species, Proteus species,
Corynebacterium species, etc. which lead to further damages to the skin as well as the health of the
animal17. These wounds also get contaminated with various bacteria, which are present in the environment
and through the parasites already feeding on the body of the camel.
Devrajani et al.
IJAVMS Vol. 4, issue 4, 2010:96-104
Scientific literature provides sufficient information regarding the bacterial organisms, which cause wounds
on skin and hide of domestic animals 11&14. However, there has been no, or a very little research carried-out
on identification and characterization of bacterial organisms generated in camel wounds and their
sensitivity to various antibiotics.
The present pioneering research study on camel wounds has been carried-out to recognize the bacterial
species with their sensitivity to different antibiotics. This study has a great importance, because it provided
proper guideline to the veterinarians for treating the camel wounds of different nature. The study also paved
the way for future planning and research on wounds in animals or camels.
Material and Methods
Collection of wound samples
Eighty surgical and non-surgical wound samples from different ectodermic surfaces of camels were taken,
and brought to lab to examine for bacterial isolation, identification, and their sensitivity to different
antibiotics as per the requirement of the objectives of study. The specimens were collected by different
mean; blood samples direct from wounds of camels, pus samples direct from wounds by cotton swabs, and
pus samples direct from sub-cut lesions and abscesses.
For the collection of the samples and proper handling of the specimen different in-situ and daring
transportation, cares and sterile measures were taken so that reliable results could be obtained. Samples
from different herds of camels were collected in sterilized bijoux bottles (completely wrapped/covered with
aluminum foil) and brought to the laboratory for isolation and identification of bacterial species. The media
to be needed for proper cultivation and inoculation of bacterial organisms were prepared, inoculation and
identification characteristics whether of physical, cultural, biochemical and morphological were recorded as
adopted by Khan and Rind10.
Biochemical Test: A biochemical tests were conducted to confirm the identification of bacterial
organisms, for this purpose, oxidase, catalase, coagulase, indole, Voges Proskauer, Urease, methyl red,
gelatin liquefaction, Simmon’s Citrate, H2S production, asculin hydrolysis and TSI teats were carried-out8
while for sugar fermentation properties, nine different sugars of 1% were prepared and used for each
bacterium as demonstrated by Cruickshank6. The sugars were: Mannose, Xylose, Inositol, Galactose,
Mannitol, Glucose, Maltose, Creatinin and Dulcitol.
Results
The overall 80 wound samples of camel for bacterial species were tested during present investigation.
Sixty-seven (67) out of eighty (83.75%) were found positive, while 13 (16.25%) were free from any
bacterial contamination.
During the present survey of wound samples, 46 samples examined from males, of which 38 were detected
as positive with bacterial species while remaining were observed as negative. The percentage prevalence of
bacterial contamination in wound samples of male camels was 82.60%. Similarly, 12 wound samples from
females were obtained, of which 10 were found with bacterial contamination, the percentage prevalence of
bacterial species in wound samples was 83.33%. While 22 wound samples from young camel calves were
examined for the bacterial species, only 19 were recorded as positive while others were free from
microorganisms (Table 1).
Generally, no significant increase was recorded for the prevalence of bacterial contamination in wounds of
different groups of camels. It seemed that the trend of prevalence of bacterial contamination in wounds was
very similar, irrespective of age or sex. However, a slightly higher prevalence was recorded in young
calves as compared to adults, this might be due to low immunity, which is not developed up to protective
level, because the adults had experienced with continuous re-infection by different bacterial species that
developed the protective immunity and caused lower prevalence in adults than young calves.
Devrajani et al.
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Incidence of individual bacterial species in wound samples
The number and percentage incidence of each bacterial species isolated/ identified from wounds of camels
are presented in Table 2. Twelve bacterial species were recognized from wound samples of camels. The
bacterial species identified were Actinobacillus ligneirsi (3), Bacillus cereus (4), Citrobacter species (2),
Corynebacterium pyogenes (4), Escherichia coli (12), Klebsiella ozaenae (5), Pasturella pneumotropica
(4), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (6), Salmonella arizonae, (4), Staphylococcus aureus (10), Staphylococcus
epidermidis (1), Staphylococcus intermedius (12), and their incidence percentages were 4.47, 5.97, 2.98,
5.97, 17.01, 7.46, 5.97, 8.95, 5.97, 14.92, 1.49, and 17. 91%, respectively. However, the higher incidence
of bacterial species in wound of camels was recorded for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus intermedius,
while Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus intermedius showed incidence of 17.91% each followed by
Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa, which had their presence in the order of 14.92%, and
8.95%, respectively.
In adult males, 38 bacterial flora were isolated from 46 wound samples. The species isolated/identified
were Actinobacillus ligneirsi (3), Bacillus cereus (2), Citrobacter species (2), Corynebacterium pyogenes
(2), Escherichia coli (7), Pasturella pneumotropica (3), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (4), Salmonella arizonae
(4), Staphylococcus aureus (5), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1), and Staphylococcus intermedius (6), which
had incidence of 7.89, 5.26, 5.26, 5.26, 18.42, 7.89, 10.52, 10.52, 13.15, 2.63, and 15.78%, respectively. It
was thus a clear indication that the frequency of Escherichia coli was higher in adult male camels as
compared to any other bacterial species isolated during the present study. However, the percentage
incidence of other bacterial species is presented in Table 2 whereas in adult female camels, 10 bacterial
isolates were recognized from 12 samples. The bacterial organisms identified were Bacillus cereus (2),
Corynebacterium pyogenes (2), Escherichia coli (3) Klebsiella ozaenae (2), and Pasturella pneumotropica
(1), and their respective incidence in wounds was in the order of 20, 20, 30, 20, and 10%, respectively.
Similarly, Escherichia coli was recorded with higher incidence in females as compared to males. Table 3
shows further similar trend of infection in both sexes of the adult animals. In females, the occurrence next
to Escherichia coli was Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium pyogenes, and Klebsiella ozaenae.
In young claves, 22 wound samples were examined in which 19 bacterial isolates were found. The
incidence of each bacterial species is also presented in Table 2. The species recognized were Escherichia
coli (2), Klebsiella ozaenae (3), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (2), Salmonella arizonae (1) Staphylococcus
aureus (5) and Staphylococcus intermedius (6) and their incidence was 10.52, 15.78, 10.25, 5.26, 26.31 and
31.57%, respectively. The higher incidence of bacterial species in wounds of young calves was of
Staphylococcus intermedius, and its frequency stood at 31.57%.
Table-1: Number and percentage prevalence of bacterial organisms in wounds of different categories of
camels
Camels
Total No. of
wound samples
examined
No. of positive
samples
% of positive
samples
No. of negative
samples
% of negative
samples
Male
46
38
82.60
8
17.39
Female
12
10
83.33
2
16.66
Calves
22
19
86.36
3
13.63
It was generalized concluded that most of the species recognized during the present study were in these
three categories of animals. The Escherichia coli was the common species which was present in wounds of
all categories of camels, while Actinobacillus ligneirsi, Citrobacter species, and Staphylococcus
epidermidis were the only bacterial organisms recognized in the wound of male camels, whereas Klebsiella
ozaenae was not detected at all from the wounds of males. It was further concluded that a higher number of
species (11) were isolated from male camels, a fewer from females (5) and from young claves (6). The
whole phenomenon inferred that higher and lower number of species present in the wounds of camels
depended on the age of animals and statues of cells of the organs, possibly the specific receptors present on
Devrajani et al.
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the cells facilitate the organisms for their adsorption, secondly this might be due to the degree of immunity,
which supposedly flushes particular organism out and provides rare chances to establish itself in the organ
or part of the body to cause infection to form a wound.
The present study therefore concluded that most of the isolated organisms, both pathogenic and nonpathogenic, were present in the wounds of camels. It was further concluded that almost all types of wounds
carry Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus intermedius. The investigation of camel
wounds also suggested that the immune system of calves was weaker than adults, irrespective of the sex
differentiation exposing calves to be more receptive/ susceptible to the organisms causing infections.
Table-2: Number and percentage incidence of individual bacterial species in wound samples of camels.
Male
Bacterial species
Female
Calves
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Actinobacillus ligneirsi
3
7.89
0
0
0
0
Bacillus cereus
2
5.26
2
20.00
0
0
Citrobacter species
2
5.26
0
0
0
0
Corynebacterium pyogenes
2
5.26
2
20.00
0
0
Escherichia coli
7
18.42
3
30.00
2
10.52
Klebsiella ozaenae
0
0
2
20.00
3
15.78
Pasturella pnumotropica
3
7.89
1
10.00
0
Pseudomonas aeroginosa
4
10.52
0
0
2
10.52
Salmonella arizonae
4
10.52
0
0
1
5.26
Staphylococcus aureus
5
13.15
0
0
5
26.31
Staphylococcus epidermidis
1
2.63
0
0
0
Staphylococcus intermedius
6
15.78
0
0
6
0
0
31.57
Incidence and predominance of bacterial species
The percentage incidence and predominance of the bacterial species found are shown in Table 3. The most
predominant species recorded in wounds of camels were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus intermedius
and their dominance was 17.91% each followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14.92%). The rest of the
organisms recorded formed a fraction of these major species. It was concluded that both these species were
most infective and common to cause any kind of wounds in camels irrespective of any specific host
species.
Incidence of bacterial species in open and close (abscesses) wounds
During this investigation, wounds were categorized into two groups, open and close wounds. The close
wounds were considered as abscesses or sub-cut lesions. In scientific literature, the term close has not been
used before for abscess. Therefore, we considered here close wounds as abscesses. The reason was to
make easy comparison between the present results and the findings of other authors.
Table 5 indicated the percentage incidence of open and close wounds of camels caused by different
organisms. Of the 46 male camels’ wound examined, 18 wounds were open, which included 15 (83.33%)
positive and 3 (16.66%) negative the other twenty eight wounds were close, from male camels, 23
(82.14%) were recorded as positive, while 5 (17.85%) were found negative. Whereas 12 wound samples
were collected from female camels of which seven samples were open, that were all positive and recorded
100% contamination. There were five close samples from the female camels. It showed that three (60.00%)
of the five were found positive and two (40.00%) were negative. Furthermore, 22 wound samples were
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investigated from young claves, of which nine were open and the incidence was recorded as 88.88%, while
13 wounds were recorded as close and the incidence of bacterial contamination was 84.60%. The samples
that were free from bacterial contamination are also given in Table 4.
Table-3: Number and percentage incidence and predominance of bacterial species in wound samples of
camels
Bacterial species
Individual bacterial species
occurring in
% of individual bacterial
species
Escherichia coli
12
17.91
Staphylococcus intermedius
12
17.91
Staphylococcus aureus
10
14.92
Pseudomonas aeroginosa
06
08.95
Klebsiella ozaenae
05
07.46
Bacillus cereus
04
05.97
Corynebacterium pyogenes
04
05.97
Pasturella pneumotropica
04
05.97
Salmonella arizonae
04
05.97
Actinobacillus ligneirsi
03
04.47
Citrobacter species
02
02.98
Staphylococcus epidermidis
01
01.49
The incidence of mixed and pure infections in wounds of camels
Mixed and pure infections in wound samples are given in Table 5. In adult males, 46 wound samples were
collected from which 38 were contaminated with micro-organisms, and a single organism was isolated
from only 3 wound samples with the incidence of 6.52%. While rest of the 35 samples were recorded with
mixed infections and incidence was recorded as 76.08%. However, in female camels, 12 wound samples
were examined, out of which 10 wounds had pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms, but two samples
were observed with single bacterial species, and its incidence was 16.66% whereas, other 8 wound samples
were found with more than one bacterial species and their incidence was 66.66%.
Table-4: Number and percentage incidence of bacterial species in open and close wound samples of camel
Animal
Type
Total No.
of wound
samples
Open wound
Close wound
No.
Positive
% of +ve
samples
No.
Positive
18
15
83.33
3
16.66
Female
7
7
100
0
Calves
9
8
88.88
Total
34
30
88.23
Male
% of
Negative
samples
Total No.
of wound
samples
No.
Positiv
e
% of +ve
samples
No.
Negative
% of
negative
samples
28
23
82.14
5
17.85
0
5
3
60.00
2
40.00
1
11.11
13
11
84.61
2
15.38
4
11.76
46
37
80.43
9
19.56
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Table-5: Number and percentage incidence of pure and mixed bacterial infections in wound samples of
camels
Animals
Total No. of
wound samples
examined
No. of
positive
samples
% of
positive
samples
No. of
pure
samples
% of pure
samples
No. of
mixed
samples
% of mixed
samples
Male
46
38
82.60
3
6.52
35
76.08
Female
12
10
83.33
2
16.66
8
66.66
Calves
22
19
86.36
1
4.54
18
81.81
Total
80
67
83.75
6
8.95
61
91.04
Discussion
During present survey, wound samples of camels were collected and examined, 67 (83.75%) were found
positive while 13 (16.25%) negative. Similarly 46, 12, and 22 wound samples were obtained from male,
female and young calves, the prevalence of bacterial organisms was recorded as 82.60, 83.33 and 86.36%,
respectively (Tables 1 and 2). It seems that the trend of prevalence of bacterial contamination in wounds is
very similar, irrespective of age or sex. However, a higher prevalence was recorded in young calves as
compared to adults. This might be due to low immunity, which is not developed up to protective level yet.
Al-Dughaym et al.2 who studied 59 camels received mandible fractures with pus formation, all were
contaminated by different bacterial species and prevalence was recorded as 100%. On the other hand, Rind
and Khan13 surveyed wound samples located on the body surface of domestic animals and recorded 93.3,
90, 100 and 100% in buffaloes, cattle, sheep, and goats respectively. However, it is clear from the present
study that irrespective of any animal species or kind of wounds, commonly all wounds get contaminated by
various bacterial species. Therefore, present results are in line to the above workers who recorded the
prevalence of bacterial organisms in wounds of camels.
Twelve bacterial species were recognized from wound samples of camels, the species were Actinobacillus
ligneirsi (3), Bacillus cereus (4), Citrobacter species (2), Corynebacterium pyogenes (4), Escherichia coli
(12), Klebsiella ozaenae (5), Pasturella pneumotropica (4), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (6), Salmonella
arizonae, (4), Staphylococcus aureus (10), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1), Staphylococcus intermedius
(12) and their incidence percentages recorded were 4.47, 5.97, 2.98, 5.97, 17.01, 7.46, 5.97, 8.95, 5.97,
14.92, 1.49, and 17.91%, respectively.
The higher incidence of bacterial species in wounds of camels was recorded for Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus intermedius, which showed incidence of 17.91%. In adult males, the species isolated were
Actinobacillus ligneirsi (3), Bacillus cereus (2), Citrobacter species (2), Corynebacterium pyogenes (2),
Escherichia coli (7), Pasturella pneumotropica (3), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (4), Salmonella arizonae (4),
Staphylococcus aureus (5), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1), and Staphylococcus intermedius (6) with the
incidence of 7.89, 5.26, 5.26, 5.26, 18.42, 7.89, 10.52, 10.52, 13.15, 2.63, and 15.78%, respectively (Table
2), whereas, in adult female camels, bacterial species isolates were Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium
pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozaenae and Pasturella pnumotropica with the incidence of 20, 20,
30, 20, and 10%, respectively. In young claves, the species Escherichia coli, Klebsiella ozaenae,
Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella arizona, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius,
and their incidence recorded as 10.52, 15.78, 10.25, 5.26, 26.31 and 31.57% respectively.
The species identified and their percentage incidence in wounds of camels demonstrated during the present
study (Table 2) was recognized from wound samples of animals by various workers through out
world2,12,13&18. However, the comparison of the present figures can be made to the results of Rind and
Khan13 that identified bacterial species from surgical and non-surgical wounds located on skins and hides
of domestic animals. They isolated, Staphylococcus aureus (3, 20%), Staphylococcus intermedius (4,
26.6%), Escherichia coli (3, 20%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (2, 13.3%), from buffaloes, whereas isolates
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of cattle were Staphylococcus aureus (1, 3.3%), Staphylococcus intermedius (2, 6.6%), Corynebacterium
pyogenes (6, 20%), Escherichia coli (8, 26.6%). While from sheep, the species were Staphylococcus
aureus (7, 24.1%), Staphylococcus intermedius (4, 13.7%), Corynebacterium pyogenes (2, 6.8%),
Escherichia coli (9, 31%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (8, 17.2%), and from goats were Staphylococcus
aureus (6, 23%), Corynebacterium pyogenes (5), Escherichia coli (3, 20%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (2,
13.3%), whereas Rana et al.13 isolated bacterial organisms were: Corynebacterium (13, 20.63%),
Staphylococcus (19, 30.15%), Streptococcus (7, 11.62%), Escherichia (3, 4.78%), Pseudomonas (5,
7.93%), Proteus (7, 11.7%), Klebsiella (4, 6.43%), Bacillus (3, 4.76%) and Mycobacterium (2, 3.17%).
Kelly et al.9 studied dog wounds and isolated the common pathogens from wounds were Staphylococcus
intermedius (23%), Escherichia coli (18%). Staphylococcus intermedius, which was found the most
common organism on the normal skin as well as in dogs with, infected wounds on their abdomen, hind
limbs, and tail. A little correlation between the incidence of the pathogens of Staphylococcus intermedius
in the mouth and the wounds on the other parts of the body was observed. Similar bacterial species were
also identified by Awad et al.4 who isolated bacterial species from swabs and necrotic materials of 461
dogs with pyodermic skin lesions. About 92% samples showed Staphylococcus species and 22% had
Streptococci species. A total of 5.9% samples were positive for Pseudomonas, Proteus, Escherichia coli,
Klebsiella, and Pasturella multocida in pure and mixed forms. However, 58% Staphylococci expressed
their characteristics were alike to Staphylococcus intermedius.
During present survey, the most predominant species recorded in wounds of camels were Escherichia coli
and Staphylococcus intermedius with the incidence of 17.91%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus
(14.92%). The rest of the organisms recorded formed a fraction of these major species are presented in
Table 3.
A similar kind of investigation was carried-out on wound samples of different animal species by various
workers. Dewani et al.7 and Shaikh15 whose findings were also close to the present study. Further, Talan et
al.16 recorded Staphylococcus intermedius as a predominant species in the samples and its dominancy was
recorded in 39% samples followed by Staphylococcus aureus and it dominated 10 times in samples.
Whereas Kelly et al.9 recorded Staphylococcus intermedius and Escherichia coli as dominant species and
their dominancy was observed as 23 and 18% respectively in wound samples of dogs. They further
reported that Staphylococcus intermedius was the most common organism present in wounds. Similarly in
this study, the same species were observed the most dominant and common species in the wounds of
camels.
The data regarding the percentage incidence of bacterial organisms in open and close wounds were
investigated in this survey (Table 4). On an average 75.58% close (abscesses), and 90.73% open wounds
were found contaminated with bacterial organisms. In scientific literature, no such information regarding
open and close wounds of camels is available to make comparison of the present results to other workers.
However, Rind and Khan13 carried-out an investigation on the incidence of bacterial species in wounds of
domestic animals. They recorded 94.8% open and 100% close wounds were contaminated with different
bacterial species whereas Cheema and Muhammod5 conducted similar kind of study and reported 100%
incidence in 86 samples collected from 45 sheep and 41 goats. They further mentioned that no abscess was
free from bacterial contamination. From these findings, it was obvious that bacterial organisms are causing
all the abscesses. Therefore, the results observed in this study about open and close (abscesses) wounds are
in line to the findings reported by the above workers.
The values about the percentage incidence of mixed and pure infections in wound samples of camels were
examined and recorded (Table 5). During present investigation, in adult males, 46 samples were studied,
35 (76.08%) wound samples were contaminated with mixed organisms, while in female 12 samples
studied, 8 (66.66%) were found mixed, whereas from young calves, 22 samples were studied, 18 (81.81%)
were contaminated with mixed bacterial species. It is again concluded that mixed infections are always
common in the wound samples.
Devrajani et al.
IJAVMS Vol. 4, issue 4, 2010:96-104
The data regarding the percentage incidence of mixed infections in wound samples of camels observed
during this survey which ranged from 80-90% are in agreement to Al-Doughayml et al.1 who isolated and
constituted 9 genera of bacteria with 82.40% gram-positive, 15% gram-negative organisms and 2.6% with
mixed organisms in wounds of camels. Rind and Khan13 in their study examined 15 wound samples from
buffaloes, from these samples, three were with pure infection, and 12 were with mixed and the incidence
was observed as 20 and 80% respectively. The same authors also examined 30 samples from cattle, 3 were
regarded as pure infection, while 27 were found mixed; the percentage was noted as 10, and 90%,
respectively. Similarly, they examined wound samples from sheep and goats, observed more than 80%
were with mixed infections while 20% samples were contaminated with pure infection. Further, Talan et al.
16
and Cheema and Muhammod5, who determined a similar percentage of incidences in their studies. It was
clear from the results that mixed infections are common in wound samples of animals.
On the basis of bacterial incidence in the samples of different kinds of wounds (open and close) of camels,
it was observed that close wounds were mostly caused by micro-organisms, and open wounds also get
contaminated with bacterial flora. It is concluded from the present investigation, that close wounds are
caused mostly by bacterial flora, whereas open wounds also get infected by micro-organisms. It was
observed during present study that most of the close wounds of camels were contaminated with bacterial
species.
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