Cytological evaluation, culture and genomics to evaluate the microbiome in healthy rabbit external ear canals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lop-eared rabbits may be predisposed to otitis externa (OE) as a consequence of their ear conformation. Although otoscopy, otic cytological evaluation and culture are valuable tools in dogs and cats, published data on rabbits remain lacking.

Hypothesis/objectives

This study aimed to assess the utility of otoscopy and cytological results in evaluating healthy rabbit external ear canals (EECs) and to characterise ear cytological and microbiological findings through culture techniques and metagenomic sequencing.

Animals

Sixty-three otitis-free client-owned rabbits.

Materials and methods

All rabbits underwent otoscopy and ear cytological evaluation. In a subset of 12 rabbits, further bacterial and fungal culture, fungal DNA assessment and metagenomic seq

SUBMITTER: Makri N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11656672 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature