SUMMARY: Bacteria were found in the alimentary tract of 40 pouch-young, ranging in age from 1 to 157 days, and within the marsupium of six adult females of Setonix brachyurus. Colonization of the neonate’s intestine occurred soon after birth; Escherichia coli and Streptococcus faecalis were frequently isolated from the intestines of pouch-young of all ages. Other micro-organisms present, but infrequently encountered, were Aerobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella sp., Salmonella newport, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus albus. Protozoan cilliates were present in the stomachs of pouch-young older than 150 days.
The pouch of non-lactating and lactating adults harboured a variety of bacteria, but in one female expecting a birth the pouch flora was absent.
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