Identification of bacterial flora isolated from apparently healthy water birds of Dhaka Zoo of Bangladesh

A total of 72 samples (Oral swab, cloacal swab and faeccal sample) were aseptically collected from different species (Purple Heron,  Demoiselle Crane Pond Heron (adult), Pond Heron (young), Cattle Egret, Night Heron (adult),  Night Heron (young) and Little Cormorant) of apparently healthy water birds of Dhaka Zoo of Bangladesh for The isolation and identification of bacterial flora. All the collected samples were inoculated in different bacteriological media for the study of their cultural properties. Grams staining, motility test and biochemical tests were also performed for the proper diagnosis of the isolated bacteria. Slide agglutination test was also performed to confirm the suspected Salmonella. Five types of bacteria were isolated and identified. The antibiogram of five randomly selected isolated bacteria of each genus were also studied. Among the isolated bacteria the isolation rate of E. coli was 54.16 % followed by Salmonella spp.31.94 %,   Staphylococcus spp. 27.78%, Bacillus spp. 26.38 % and Proteus spp. 8.33%.  Among the isolates, E.coli was found to be most prevalent bacteria. Among the samples the isolation rate of bacteria was higher in cloacal swab 54.16%, followed by oral swab 51.38% and faecal sample 43.05%.  There was marked variation in the antibiotic sensitivity and resistant patterns of the isolated bacteria to the antibiotics available in the markets.  It was found that most of the isolated bacteria were highly sensitive to enrofloxacin and norfloxacin. Ampicillin and furazolidone could not affect the growth of any isolated bacteria.