The Effects of High and Low Altitudes on Conjunctival Flora in Sport and Work Horses: A Field Study in the Northeast Anatolia Region of Turkey (Kars and Igdir)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the conjunctival microflora in healthy horses living at various altitudes and used for both sports as well as work activities, and determine the predispositions they may cause in terms of ocular diseases. A total of 400 eyes of 200 horses (50 sports and 50 work horses living at high altitudes, and likewise, 50 sports and 50 work horses living at low altitudes) aged 6 year (min: 5, max: 13) of English and Arabian and native breed from both sexes were clinically and ophthalmoscopically examined, and swab samples were taken from the conjunctival recesses of horses with no eye problems. After microbiological examinations, bacteria was isolated in 125 (31.2%) of the 400 swab samples, while fungi was isolated in 194 (48.5%) of the samples. It was determined that the isolated bacteria were mostly Gram-positive (71.5%) with Staphylococcus spp. being the most frequently isolated and Bacillus spp. the second-most frequently isolated. In terms of fungi isolation, Yeast were the most isolated with a rate of 39.6%, Penicillium spp. were the second-most isolated with 22.6% and Aspergillus spp. were the third-most isolated with 17.5%. The most effective antibiotics on isolated bacteria were determined as cephalosporin, oxytetracycline, lincomycin/neomycin (L/N) and ceftiofur. It was concluded that the data collected from the study, taken into consideration as reference values, could help in the creation of a more effective treatment protocol in the case of an eye infection. It was also concluded that it is necessary to carefully evaluate the bacteria and fungi that are identified in horses used for these activities, both during check-ups and with regard to creating a treatment plan when an inflammatory eye problem occurs.