microbiota of ocular and peri-ocular areas in blanford fox (vulpes cana) and pallas cat (felis manul)

The ocular microbiota of healthy and diseased wild mammals remains relatively understudied, particularly within the canidae and felidae families. this study aimed to investigate the microbial flora present on the ocular and peri-ocular regions of blanford fox (vulpes cana) and pallas cat (felis manul), two wild species commonly found in zoos. a total of five pallas cats and five blanford foxes were included in the study, undergoing anesthesia for routine physical examinations. ophthalmic examinations were conducted, followed by bacterial and fungal culture sampling from the ocular surface and peri-ocular skin. the results revealed a diverse range of bacterial and fungal species, with staphylococcus epidermidis being the most commonly isolated bacteria. additionally, aspergillus spp. and penicillium spp. were found in the peri-ocular skin of pallas cats. no gram-negative bacteria or fungal organisms were isolated from the ocular surface. this study provides valuable insights into the normal commensal flora of these wild mammals, serving as a reference for future comparisons with diseased states and enhancing our understanding of ocular microbiota in these species.