Abstract

The aerobic bacteria were investigated in this study using 70 nasal swabs collected from the nasal cavity of healthy lambs in Mosul city. The study extended from March to June 2009. 14 bacterial species were isolated, they included Bacillus spp. 14%, Corynebacterium 11.9%, Eenterococcus 11.2%, Streptococcus, E. coli and Pseudomonas 8.4% for each one, Nocardia 7.7%, Staphylococcus saprophyticus 7%, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Mannheimia haemolytica 6.3% for each species, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis 3.5% for each species, Actinomyces pyogenes 2.1% and finally Serratia marcescens 1.4% had the lowest isolation percentage. Summing-up, Gram’s positive bacteria predominated over Gram’s negative ones 99/143 (69.2%) vs. 44/143 (30.8%). Two bacterial species were the highest type of isolation frequency. Many isolated bacteria were considered as opportunistic pathogens, M. haemolytica, A. pyogenes, and K. pneumoniae were frequently associated with respiratory diseases. Also Gram’s positive bacteria predominated over Gram’s negative ones.