Antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaf extract against pyogenic bacteria isolated from a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) abscess

BACKGROUND: Abscess in camel is one of the most important bacterial infections. It causes anemia and emaciation, resulting in an economic loss due to carcass condemnation and a decrease in reproductive and production efficiency. AIM: This investigation aimed to isolate the bacteria from abscesses in camels and evaluate the antibacterial activity of Moringa oleifera extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Disk diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration were used for the evaluation of the antibacterial activity of M. oleifera extracts against isolated bacteria from camel abscesses. RESULTS: The isolated bacteria were displayed relatively as follows: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (30.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (25.8%), Escherichia coli (17.8%), Corynebacterium ulcerans (10.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (8.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.5%), Micrococcus spp. (6.7%), Proteus vulgaris (5.2%), Citrobacter spp. (4.2%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (1.7%). The drugs of choice for Corynebacterium isolates were ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, whereas amikacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin, novobiocin, streptomycin, and vancomycin were for Staphylococcus isolates. Moreover, the ethanol extracts of M. oleifera showed higher antibacterial efficacy than the cold aqueous extracts. CONCLUSION: M. oleifera is considered one of the new infection-fighting strategies in controlling pyogenic bacteria responsible for camel abscesses.