Final answer:
To culture bacteria from an iguana's maxillary abscess, a sterile swab is the most suitable collection device. It should be used to collect the discharge and sent to the lab quickly to maintain the viability of the bacteria for accurate diagnosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
To collect a bacterial culture for the exudative pyogranulomatous discharge from a maxillary abscess due to a bite on a 7-year-old intact iguana, the most suitable collection device would be a sterile swab. The swab should be used to gently collect pus from the abscess, ensuring that a sufficient amount of exudate is obtained without contaminating the sample. After collection, the swab needs to be transported to the laboratory as quickly as possible, especially if transport media are used, as prolonged transport times can significantly reduce the viability of certain bacteria. Examples of bacteria that can be cultured from similar clinical scenarios include Bordetella pertussis from nasopharyngeal specimens, which is streaked onto Bordet-Gengou medium, and Clostridium perfringens, which requires specific growth conditions for detection. A wet mount may be prepared for immediate microscopic examination but is less ideal compared to laboratory culturing for diagnosing bacterial infections.