The Effect of Age, Sex, and Geographic Area on the Prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from infected Ears of Dogs in Baghdad: A Field Study

Abstract

Otitis externa is one of the most common inflammatory disease of dogs around the globe, to which, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant causative pathogen due to its natural resistance to many antibiotics and chronic persistent infection. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Age, Sex, Location, and Type of Husbandry on the presence of P. aeruginosa in otitis externa in canine patients in Baghdad, Iraq. Results: 50 otitis externa affected dogs were recruited from veterinary clinics in Rusafa and Karkh districts. Ear swab specimens were taken to be processed to microbiological culture for biochemical identification using conventional methods and the Vitek 2 compact system. P. aerguinosa was isolated in 11 of the 50 subjects (22% prevalence). Analysis of age showed a U-shaped distribution, with a 22.22% prevalence in dogs of less than 1 year of age, 12.5% in young adult dogs of 1-2 years, and 31.25% in dogs of more than 2 years (p = 0.0085). Zonal distribution showed a Karkh district prevalence of 35.29%, while Rusafa district had a 15.15% (p = 0.0237) prevalence. Analysis of Husbandry type showed a 25.93% prevalence of P. aeruginosa in domestic dogs, 20% in stray dogs, and 15.38% in farm dogs (p = 0.0078). The sex distribution of the studied subjects was almost equal, with 48% males and 52% females, and a high prevalence of 20.83% in males and 23.08% in females. Conclusions: Age, location, and type of husbandry were significantly associated with the prevalence of P. aeruginosa in canine otitis externa in Baghdad, and suggests the need for increased preventive