PREVALENCE OF CAMPYLOBACTER AND SALMONELLA IN CATS AND DOGS

Faeces were collected from normal and diarrheatic 130 pet anim als (40 housed cats and 90 unknown dogs) for bacteriological studies on Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella organisms and other enteric pathogens. Out of those pet animals one cat and 15 dogs showed signs of enteritis. Campylobacter jejuni and Proteus organisms were recovered from 5% and 10% of faeces of cats. The 4 Proteus strains were identified as Proteus rettgeri 2 and Protus mirabilis 2 while Campylobacter jejuni were isolated from 8.9% of the dogs used in this investigation. The organism was detected in 6.67% and 20% out of 75 clinically healthy and 15 diarrheatic dogs respectively. The recovery rates of Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus spp. were 1.1%, 1.1% and 9% respectively. The identified Proteus spp. were Proteus rettgeri 6, Proteus vulgaris 2 and Proteus mirabilis one. Salmonel lae failed to be isolated from faeces of cats and dogs. The role of cats and dogs in transmission of some zoonotic agents was discussed.