Antibacterial Resistance and Bacterial Load in Milk Exposed to Dog Saliva in Sudan

Background and Objective: Dogs saliva contains several types of bacteria, some of which are pathogenic to humans. Dogs contribute to many zoonotic diseases that may be transmitted by saliva. Dog bites and dog scratches are common sources of diseases among humans, particularly in children who use to play with dogs. This study aimed to identify and characterize bacteria present in dog saliva, quantify bacterial load in milk contaminated by dog saliva and assess bacterial susceptibility to twelve antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Two experiments were conducted: The first involved 150 swabs of police dog saliva in Bori and the second used 150 milk samples mixed with dog saliva from various areas. Bacteria were cultured on multiple media and tested against several antibiotics, with inhibition zones measured to determine sensitivity, intermediate response, or resistance. Results: Five bacterial species were identified: Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Gemella morbillorum and Bacillus spp. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant species. Co-trimoxazole showed the highest effectiveness, with 81.7% sensitivity, followed by Ciprofloxacin at 73.3%. The bacterial load increased with extended licking, with the highest counts in Gandahar and the lowest in Kafori. Conclusion: This study concludes that Staphylococcus aureus, is predominant in dog saliva, with bacterial load increasing as milk licking recurs. Co-Trimoxazole and Ciprofloxacin are the preferred treatments.