Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences

Abstract
This study identified bacteria isolated from the preputial cavity of household cats and hunting dogs in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria, and also determined their susceptibility pattern to common anti-microbial agents. Preputial swab samples were collected from forty household cats and thirty-two hunting dogs. Following culture and biochemical analyses, eight bacterial species were identified, and these included Bacilllus spp. (cats – 77.5%, dogs – 56.3%), Klebsiella spp. (cats – 37.5%, dogs – 96.9%), Shigella spp. (cats – 30.0%), Staphylococcus spp. (cats – 20.0%, dogs – 59.4%), Escherichia coli (dogs – 25.0%), Salmonella spp. (cats – 15.0%, dogs – 12.5%), Enterobacter spp. (cats – 12.5%), and Proteus spp. (cats – 5.0%). There was a high frequency of isolation of Bacillus spp. in both cats and dogs, but Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated in high frequency only in the dogs. The frequency of isolation of Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in dogs than in cats. The resistance at isolate level was low for all the antimicrobials tested; however, some bacterial isolates were found to be resistant to augmentin, amoxicillin and gentamicin. This study showed that multiple bacterial species colonize the preputial cavities of household cats and hunting dogs in Maiduguri, Nigeria. These bacterial isolates have the potential to cause bacterial diseases in the prepuce of such affected animals and can possibly lead to reproductive disorders that may adversely affect the fertility of affected animals. Regular washing of the prepuce in these species of animals prior to breeding is recommended.

Keywords: Microbiome; Prepuce; Household cats; Hunting dogs; Maiduguri, Nigeria; Antimicrobial susceptibility.

How to cite this article:
Peter ID, Anih CG, Yama E, Abba A, Malgwi KD, Ezema KU and Iliyasu D (2026). Microbiome from prepuces of household cats and hunting dogs in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of aerobic bacteria isolated from the prepuces. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 16(1): 1249 – 1258.

*Correspondence: E-mail: innocentd.peter@unimaid.edu.ng Phone: +234901501863

Microbiome from prepuces of household cats and hunting dogs in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of aerobic bacteria isolated from the prepuces
Innocent D. Peter ^{1 *}, Chinaza G. Anih ¹, Ezekiel Yama ¹, Abdulhamid Abba ², Kefas D. Malgwi ², Kingsley U. Ezema ², Dauda Iliyasu ¹
¹ Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri. Maiduguri, Nigeria.
² Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri. Maiduguri, Nigeria.