Normal bacterial flora from idmi (Gazella gazella) and reem gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica) in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Nasal, buccal and rectal swabs were collected from 24 adults and 25 newborn clinically healthy reem
(Gazella subgutturosa marica) and idmi (Gazella gazella) gazelles from the breeding pens of the King
Khalid Wildlife Research Center (KKWRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Swabs were cultured on bacteriological
media and organisms isolated were identified using the appropriate analytical profile index (API)
identification system. 253 bacterial and 5 fungal isolates were reported from idmi and reem under
investigation. Of the bacteria isolated, 136 (53.8%) were isolated from idmi gazelles whereas 117 (46.2%)
were isolated from reem gazelles. 187 (73.9%) of the isolates were Gram positive while 66 (26.1%) were
Gram negative. Among the significant Gram negative organisms isolated was Fusobacterium
necrophorum which was isolated from both species under investigation. The pathogenic Gram positive
organism, Arcanobacterium pyogenes was also isolated from reem and idmi gazelles at the centre.
Listeria grayi was isolated only from idmi gazelles whereas unidentified species of Nocardia was isolated
from reem gazelles. The only fungal species isolated was Candida albicans which was isolated from the
rectal swabs of idmi gazelles.