The green iguana appears to be a carrier for bacteria causing gastrointestinal infections in humans. The presence of diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes, however, has not been studied in this reptile. The aim of the current work was to investigate the prevalence of DEC in the intestines of 240 captive green iguanas, their phylogenetic groups, and the antibiotic susceptibility profile. E. coli strains were isolated from 41.7% (N = 100/240) of the intestinal content of green iguanas. DEC strains was identified in 25.9% of the screened population and were detected in the majority (62%, p = 0.009) of those reptiles carrying E. coli strains. Among DEC strains, STEC strains carrying the stx1 gene were the most prevalent pathotype isolated (38.7%), followed by EAEC and ETEC (27.4% each). Genetic markers of DEC strains belonging to the EHEC pathotype were not detected. More than a half of DEC strains were classified into the Clade I-II phylogroup (64.5%), followed by the phylogroup A (14.5%). The antibiotic susceptibility method demonstrated that a high proportion of DEC strains were resistance, or non-susceptible, to carbenicillin, amikacin, and ampicillin. We conclude that the green iguana kept in captivity is a carrier of DEC strains bearing resistance to first-line antibiotics, including penicillins. Given the increase presence of the green iguana in Latin American households, these reptiles represent a potential source of transmission to susceptible humans and therefore a potential source of gastrointestinal disease.

Keywords: Glomus fasciculatum, organic cultivation of tomato, pH in tomato fruit, soluble solids. Abbreviations

Sixteen male red deer (Cervus elaphus), with an initial weight of 93.83 ± 4.38 kg were used to study the effect of the dietary level of ruminally protected methionine (RPM) on growth, antler morphometry and serum metabolites. The deer were allowed to graze and were individually supplemented with concentrate to provide 0, 2.5, 3.5 or 4.5 g/day of RPM for 65 days. There was a quadratic effect on daily weight gain (0.163, 0.098, 0.147 and 0.172 kg/day; P < 0.005) and antler beam length (59.7, 63.6, 63.0 and 57.2 cm; P < 0.02) for RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively. The brow tine length and the number of points were similar across all treatments. Serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) was reduced (quadratic effect; P < 0.02; 22.0, 29.6, 18.0 and 17.8 IU/l) to RPM levels of 0 to 4.5 g/day, respectively, whereas other metabolites (glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, total protein and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) were unchanged. Increasing the RPM dose did not affect weight gain or antler growth. Methionine supplementation reduced the activity of SGPT.

20The green iguana appears to be a reservoir for bacteria causing gastrointestinal infections in 21 humans. The presence of diarrheogenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes , however, has not been 22 studied in this reptile. The aim of the current work was to investigate the prevalence of 23 DEC in the intestines of 240 captive green iguanas, their phylogenetic groups, and the 24 antibiotic susceptibility profile. E. coli strains were isolated from 41.7% of the intestinal 25 content of green iguanas. DEC strains was identified in 25.9% of the screened population 26 and were detected in the majority (62%, p=0.009] of those reptiles carrying E. coli strains. 27Among DEC strains, STEC strains carrying the stx1 gene were the most prevalent 28 pathotype isolated (38.7%), followed by EAEC and ETEC (27.4% each). Genetic markers 29 of DEC strains belonging to the EHEC pathotype were not detected. More than a half of 30 DEC strains were classified into the Clade I-II phylogroup (64.5%), followed by the 31 phylogroup A (14.5%). The antibiotic susceptibility method demonstrated that a high 32 proportion of DEC strains were resistance, or non-susceptible, to carbenicillin, amikacin, 33 and ampicillin (85, 74, and 66%, respectively). We conclude that the green iguana kept in 34 captivity is a reservoir of DEC strains bearing resistance to first-line antibiotics, including 35 penicillins. Given the increase presence of the green iguana in Latin American households, 36 these reptiles represent a potential source of transmission to susceptible humans and 37 therefore a potential source of gastrointestinal disease. 38 Importance 39 Latin-American countries present a high burden of diarrheal disease. In this part of the 40 world, besides common pathogens, diarrheal diseases are also caused by pathogenic types 41 of E. coli referred as "diarrheagenic E. coli" (DEC). While inhabitants of Latin American 42 3countries suffer of self-limiting diarrhea when infected with DEC, a main target of these 43 strains are tourists from developed countries who are not exposed to DEC strains. Efforts 44 are in place to decrease the burden of DEC-associated diarrheal disease. As such, this study 45 investigated a potential reservoir of DEC strains that had been underestimated, the green 46 iguana. These reptiles are very common in Latin American households and are found 47 virtually everywhere in Mexico, Central and South America. We found that 25% of green 48 iguanas carried DEC strains in their intestines. We also demonstrated a high prevalence of 49 antibiotic resistance in these strains, posing a potential risk to humans. 50 51 Key words 52 Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, prevalence, Iguana, Chiapas, antimicrobial resistance, 53 Zoonotic. 54 55 56 Escherichia coli is a commensal bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract of 57 human and mammals. Its ability to acquire virulence genes has originated strains that cause 58 serious gastrointestinal infections in humans as well as animals (1). E. coli pathogenic 59 strains are responsible for approxim...

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