The normal flora of the mouths of macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)

Abstract

From swabs obtained from the mouths of 59 captive macropods and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi, the most frequent isolates were streptococci and aerobic Gram-negative rods. Other isolates, in order of diminishing frequency, were Gram-positive non-sporulating rods and filaments, staphylococci/micrococci, aerobic Gram-negative cocci, fungi, anaerobic Gram-positive cocci, anaerobic Gram-negative rods and filaments, species of Bacillus and Clostridium, and members of the Simonsiellaceae. No anaerobic Gram-negative cocci were isolated, and spirochaetes were seen only in one animal with periodontal pockets. Smears of material from the mouths of 5 wild wallabies showed organisms resembling those found in the captive animals.