PREVALENCE AND IDENTITY OF TRANSLOCATING BACTERIA IN HEALTHY DOGS

Bacterial translocation is characterized by the passage of intestinall y derived bacteria across the intestinal mucosa to local or regional t issues. This phenomenon is believed to be important in the pathogenesi s of gram-negative bacteremia and septicemia; however, the pathway or route of translocation remains unclear. To define the route of translo cation better, mesenteric lymph nodes from 50 apparently healthy dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomies were cultured aerobically and anaerobically. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalenc e of bacterial translocation and to quantify and identify types of org anisms found in mesenteric lymph nodes. Peripheral blood and portal bl ood samples were similarly cultured to rule out hematogenous organisms as a source of lymph node contamination. Bacteria were isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes of 26 dogs (52%). The number of bacteria varied from 50 to > 10(5) organisms/g of tissue. Bacteria isolated included Staphylococcus intermedius (n = 3), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (n = 2), nonhemolytic Streptococcus (n = 4), Bacillus species (n = 5), Escherichia coli (n = 6), Salmonella species (n = 3), Pseudomonas spe cies (n = 2), Enterococcus species (n = 2), Clostridium sordelli (n = 1), Micrococcus species (n = 1), Lactobacillus species (n = 1), and Pr opionibacterium acnes (n = 1). One of 50 peripheral blood samples yiel ded an unidentified gram-positive coccus and a coagulase-negative Stap hylococcus. No bacteria were isolated from portal blood samples of any dog. Further studies of this type on sick dogs are warranted before c linical recommendations can be made to culture mesenteric lymph nodes routinely. Copyright (C) 1997 by the American College of Veterinary In fernal Medicine.