Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Dromedary Camels Affected with Pneumonia for the First Time in Sudan

Aims: Of the study were to isolate and identify bacteria from pneumonic lungs and the upper respiratory tracts of camels slaughtered at Tambool Abattoir.
Study Design: A total of 800 samples were collected from 400 camels of different ages and sexes, from different parts of the Sudan. The samples comprised lung specimens and tracheal swabs, from each camel.
Place of Study: The samples collected from Tambool abattoir included congested and hepatized lungs and from abscesses, suppurative and adhered lung tissues then transported immediately on ice to the Veterinary Research Institute, Soba for isolation of bacteria.
Methodology: A total of 713 bacterial isolates were isolated from the samples of which 489 (68.6%) were Gram positive and 224 (31.4%) were Gram negative bacteria. The isolates were characterised by three different techniques: 584 (81.90%), with the conventional, 60(8.42%) with the Api kits and 69 (9.68%) with the automated Vitek 2 Compact system.
Results: The isolates that were characterized conventionally were: Actinomyces, Aeromonas, Bacillus and Corynebacterium spp, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp.
The isolates characterized by the Api kits were: Aeromonas spp, Burkholderia cepacia, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterobacter cloaca, Enterobacter sakazakii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp.
The isolates characterized by the Vitek 2 Compact were: Acinetobacter, Actinomyces spp, Aeromonas hydrophilia, Aeromonas salmonicida, Aeromonas viridans, Alloiococcus otitis (A. otitis), Bacillus spp, Bordetella bronciseptica, Burkholderia cepacia, Corynebacterium spp, E. coli, Escherichia hermanii, Enterobacter cloaca, Enterobacter sakasakii, Facklamia hominis, Gardnerella vaginalis, K. pneumoniae, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Micrococcus spp, Morganella morganii, Pantoe sp, Pediococcus sp, Providense stuartii, Pseudomonas spp, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Staphylococcus spp, Stenotrophomona maltophia and Streptococcus spp included Streptococcus agalaciae (Str. agalaciae), Streptococcus suis (Str. suis) and Streptococcus bovis (Str. bovis).
Conclusion: A. otitis which causes acute otitis media in man was isolated from a camel trachea in this study. Str. agalaciae was isolated from a camel for the first time in the Sudan and Str. suis and Str. boviswere similarly reported.