Comparative Analysis of Antiseptic Preparation Methods on Skin Microbiota and Body Temperature in Pigeons (Columba livia domestica)
Michelle Waligora Kendall, DVM, Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Georgia
The principles of avian surgery are often extrapolated from other species. Aseptic methods remain largely untested in birds. The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of antiseptic solutions on skin bacterial load and body temperature in pigeons.
Thirty pigeons were anesthetized and prepared for both right and left lateral approaches to coeliotomy. Feathers were plucked, and skin swabs for colony-forming unit (CFU) determination were obtained before and after application of each of five antiseptic protocols: chlorhexidine 4% and povidone iodine 7.5% each with a saline or alcohol rinse, DuraPrep without a rinse, and saline used for both scrub and rinse as the control. CFUs were counted after 48 hours of incubation. Core body temperature was measured via esophageal probe during preparation of the first site for each bird. Seven of the post-treatment swabs grew bacteria, five were selected for MALDI- TOF identification and Staphylococcus spp. were isolated from all five swabs. All antiseptic protocols significantly reduced bacterial load, with no significant difference in effectiveness between protocols when excluding the saline control. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in temperature changes across treatments. These findings indicate all tested protocols containing an antiseptic were effective at reducing bacterial load without significant variation in effectiveness. Additionally, there were no statistically or clinically significant changes in body temperature regardless of treatment.