Abstract:
This study investigated the sterility and Preservability of Ringer‟s Lactate, Darrows, 5% dextrose and Normal Saline
solutions used as preser
vatives for 16 freshly harvested normal canine kidneys from 16 Nigerian local dogs of non specific
sex and weight.
Nephrectomised kidneys were flushed and preserved for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours at 4 0C in labeled bowls containing
heparinized antibiotics inc
orporated in the solutions with each having its control (without antibiotic penicillin/streptomycin
incorporated). Pre and post preservation, a loop
-
full of each solution was cultured on freshly prepared two general purpose
media (Blood and nutrient agar)
and one selective medium (MacConkey agar). They were incubated at 37 0C for 48 hours
after which they were examined for bacterial growth. Histological studies of the preserved kidneys were used to predict
preservability.
There was no evidence of microbial
growth upon 96 hours of culture for all the solutions their respective controls).
Generally, the gross appearances of the kidneys were normal indicative of viability.
In conclusion, the indigenous, commercially produced intravenous fluids that were used f
or preservation of harvested
kidneys were sterile before and after 96 hours of preservation. This was evident by the absence of microbial growth in both
groups of the solutions after 96 hours preservation.
