Resident bacteria in a mixed population of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) monkeys: a prevalence study

Background Microflora populations residing in oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal sites defend against pathogenic bacterial colonization. Perturbations in these microbial communities may allow opportunistic pathogenic bacteria to establish themselves and cause morbidity and mortality from sepsis particularly after stressful experimental procedures. This study determined the prevalent facultative bacteria in a resident population of Macaca mulatta prior to use in experimentally induced immunosuppressive radiation studies. Methods Standard microbiological methods were used to assess prevalent facultative bacteria in the oropharynx and rectum of 24 male M. mulatta. Results The majority of the bacteria isolated from the oropharyngeal and rectal sites were gram-positive cocci. Species of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus predominated in all samples. Few gram-negative bacteria were isolated. Conclusions Bacteriological assessment is recommended to identify predominant bacterial species to be prepared to provide appropriate antimicrobial therapy in non-human primates that are expected to undergo stressful immunocompromising procedures.