Preputial Bacteria and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns in Stallions within Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria```

Abstract

The prepuce is a normal part of the external genitalia that forms the anatomical covering of the glans penis thereby internalizing the penis and decreasing irritation and contamination. The prepuce accommodates diverse micro-organisms, and these can impact health and disease conditions. This study was aimed at isolating and identifying preputial bacterial flora from stallions in Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State, Nigeria. Swabs were obtained from prepuces of 40 randomly selected apparently healthy stallions of three years and above. Using standard bacteriological identification techniques, the following bacteria were identified: Bacillus (23.0%), Klebsiella (20.6%), Escherichia coli (16.7%), Salmonella (16.7%), Enterobacter (13.5%), and Proteus (9.5%). Bacillus, E. coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter were susceptible to amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin, while Proteus was resistant. Those susceptible to gentamycin were Bacillus, E. coli, Salmonella, and Enterobacter, but Bacillus, E. coli, and Enterobacter were susceptible to streptomycin. However, Klebsiella and Proteus species showed resistance to ampiclox and chloramphenicol. The results of this study showed that some bacteria colonize the prepuces of stallions, indicating a need for preputial washing before breeding to reduce the bacterial load and potential transmission of these bacteria during mating. Amoxicillin, ampiclox, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, and streptomycin could be used as therapeutic agents for diseases caused by the aforementioned bacteria in stallions.