A comparison of endoscopic and surgical collection procedures for the analysis of the bacterial flora in duodenal fluid from cats

In order to assess an endoscopic collection procedure, populations of bacteria in duodenal fluid from seven adult cats were compared in paired samples obtained by endoscopy and direct needle aspiration during laparotomy. Each sample of duodenal juice was subjected to quantitative and qualitative culture of bacteria under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. There were no significant differences in total numbers or individual species of bacteria comparing the two collection procedures. These findings indicate that collection of duodenal juice by endoscopy using the procedure described provides a representative sample of small bowel fluid for the assessment of the bacterial flora. Therefore, there appears to be no need for more invasive or complicated sampling techniques when quantitative and qualitative culture of duodenal juice is indicated as part of an investigation of small bowel disease in cats.