Normal microflora of eye of camel (Camelus dromedarius)

This study was carried out by taking 60 swabs from both eyes of 30 camels (Camelus dromedarius) during December 1992 to January 1993 from commercial camel flocks at Lapouei region, Fars Province, iran. All the swabs were cultured in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions and the isolated bacteria were identified. A wide variety of bacteia were isolated belonging to 19 different species. No anaerobic bacteria could be isolated. The isolates were: Bacillus species (58.70%), Gram-positive cocci including Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species (18.84%), Gram-negative species (22.46%). Most of the isolated bacteria were non-pathogenic, but opportunistic species were also identified. A close relationship between the high rate of Bacillus species and environmental and hygienic conditions was established.