@article{1229,
  keywords = {lizard, microbiology, oral cavity, upper respiratory tract, bacteria},
  author = {P Günther and J Verspohl and M Fehr and K Mathes},
  title = {Aerobic microbiota of the oropharynx and  the proximal trachea in captive bearded dragons (Pogona species)},
  abstract = {Even though bearded dragons (Pogona ssp.) become more and more popular as pets, the knowledge of their physiological bacterial flora is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to achieve baseline data regarding the aerobic and microaerophilic microbiological flora of the oropharynx and the proximal part of trachea. For this purpose, culture specimens were taken from 49 bearded dragons and processed using conventional bacteriological methods 19 bacterial genera (twelve Gram-negative, seven Gram-positive) including 32 species (22 Gram-negative, ten Gram-positive) were found, generally in light numbers. 66% of the isolated bacteria of the oropharynx were Gram-negative (Serratia spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus sp. in particular), mostly occurring in a mixed flora of two or three bacterial species including Gram-positive bacteria (i. a. Staphylococcus and Enterococcus). Only 27.7% of the tracheal specimens, in comparison to 92.8% of the oropharyngeal samples, yielded a positive microbiological result. In the tracheal swabs Staphylococcus and Enterococcus mainly constituted the Gram-positive flora, with Serratia being isolated as a regular Gramnegative representative. In general, there were one or two bacterial species isolated in a light quantity. There was a statistical higher amount of negative tracheal swabs in summer. Lizards housed pairwise or in groups generally yielded significantly more Pseudomonas spp. and Enterobacteriaceae in the oropharynx than their single conspecifics. Only little individual congruence of oral and tracheal microbiota (18.4%) could be detected, leading to the conclusion that oropharyngeal swabs are of only very little value as a diagnostic means in respiratory disease. },
  year = {2016},
  journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift},
  volume = {129},
  edition = {11/12},
  pages = {500-506},
  month = {11/2016},
  publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG},
  address = {Hannover},
  issn = {0005-9366},
  doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-15123},
  language = {English},
}