Sixteen IgA-deficient German Shepherd Dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth were randomized into 2 groups. One group was fed a chicken-based kibble diet; the other was fed the same diet, but with 1% fructo-oligosaccharides supplemented at the expense of cornstarch. After being exposed to the diets for 46 to 51 days, the group that ate the supplemented diet had significantly (P = 0.04) fewer aerobic/facultative anaerobic bacterial colony-forming units in fluid from the duodenum/proximal part of the jejunum, as well as in the duodenal mucosa. We could not detect significant differences in the species of bacteria found in the intestine of these 2 groups of dogs. We conclude that at least some dietary carbohydrates can affect small intestinal bacterial populations in dogs with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed in pigs to assess bacterial contamination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) obtained by use of the method and to determine the aerobic bacterial species in bronchoalveolar airways of healthy pigs. Bacterial contamination of BALF caused by insertion of the bronchoscope was evaluated, using a chromogenic bacterial tracer strain, and was found to be 0.22% of total colony-forming units (CFU), with range between 0 and 1.6%. A total of 164 pulmonary-healthy pigs from 6 closed herds were selected. The BALF obtained from these pigs were examined bacteriologically. Bacteria could not be isolated from 10.4% of all BALF; 5.5% of the BALF samples yielded pure cultures; and 84.1% yielded mixed aerobic bacterial growth. In BALF from 29.2% of the pigs, less than or equal to 5 X 10(2) CFU of bacteria/ml were isolated. The total number of bacteria in BALF from 50% of the pigs varied between 5 X 10(2) and 10(3) CFU/ml; 10.4% of BALF samples contained between 10(3) CFU/ml and 5 X 103 CFU/ml. More than 1 bacterial species were isolated from a single lung lavage of 84.1% of the pigs. Up to 6 species were isolated from a single BALF sample. A total of 443 bacterial isolates were differentiated into 25 bacterial genera and species. Samples of BALF yielded staphylococci (67.6%: Staphylococcus hyicus from 13.4% of the samples and S aureus from 2.4%), alpha-hemolytic streptococci (49.4%), Escherichia coli (42.1%), non-hemolytic streptococci (26.2%), Klebsiella spp (18.3%), micrococci (12.8%), and Coryneformes (11.0%). Other bacterial species were found, but less frequently. In our study, BALF from all pigs yielded < 5 X 103 CFU/ ml. Thus, low numbers of bacteria known to be facultative pathogens were isolated from BALF without causing detectable pneumonia.

Conjunctival swab specimens from healthy pigs were cultured to determine normal microbial population. Four commercial swine operations were selected for study. Pigs of 4 age groups were tested: nursing pigs, nursery pigs, feeder pigs, and sows. Swab specimens were taken from the conjunctival sac of each pig. Bacterial, fungal, and mycoplasmal growth was determined separately. Chlamydia sp was detected by use of an ELISA. Bacteria were recovered from 98% of specimens evaluated. alpha-Streptococcus sp (89%) was the most commonly recovered organism, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (39%) and Staphylococcus sp (39%). Mycoplasma sp was not detected in any of the specimens. Chlamydia sp was identified in 28% of all specimens evaluated. These results are similar to reports of normal conjunctival flora in other domestic animals.