A study of predominant aerobic microflora of black bears (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in northwestern Alberta

Abstract

Swab specimens were obtained from nasal, rectal, and preputial or vaginal areas of 37 grizzly and 17 black bears, captured during May to June of 1981 to 1983, to determine the types and frequency of predominant aerobic microflora. Bacterial genera most frequently isolated from bears were Escherichia, Citrobacter, Hafnia, Proteus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species, comprising about 65% of the isolates. Erwinia, Xanthomonas, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, and Gluconobacter/Acetobacter were also isolated but at lower frequencies (less than 5%). Comparison of bacterial generic composition using similarity quotient values showed no appreciable differences between grizzly and black bear flora. Also, no outstanding differences in bacterial generic composition were observed among grizzly bear samples; however, differences were noted among black bear samples. Fungal genera most commonly encountered included Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Cladosporium, Penicillium, Sporobolomyces, and Candida. In general, the microflora of both bear types were marked by generic diversity and random distribution. The majority of microorganisms isolated from the plant samples in the study area were also found in bear samples. This observation and the presence of certain water and soil bacteria in samples from bears suggest that the predominant microflora of both grizzly and black bears were transient and probably influenced by their foraging habits and surrounding environments.

Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Two Brown Bears in the Central European Carpathians

“…Most studies have involved oral bacteria of bears or bacteria associated with bear bite wounds (Parry et al, 1983;Goatcher et al, 1987;Kunimoto et al, 2004). The only reported nontuberculous mycobacterium from any bear species is M. fortuitum that was isolated from a brown bear (Ursus arctos) bite wound (Lehtinen et al, 2005).…”

Bacteriology of a Bear Bite Wound to a Human: Case Report

“…However, the bacteriology of these wounds is limited by the absence of systematic study and the paucity of patients cultured, and cultures are not usually taken prior to, or even after the initiation of, antimicrobial therapy (12). Consequently, there are scant data regarding the bacteriology of bear bite wounds (12) or regarding the oral flora of wild bears (3,11), and conclusions about the most appropriate antimicrobial therapy are moot.…”

Gluconobacter as Well as Asaia Species, Newly Emerging Opportunistic Human Pathogens among Acetic Acid Bacteria

“…Besides, the genus Gluconobacter is of great industrial interest because of its use in vinegar and fermented food production and of its numerous biotechnological applications (6,7,8,23). Little is known about the transmission of these emerging AAB pathogens to humans, but food may represent a source for AAB, as suggested previously for bears (11). Cases of contamination with strains thought to be exotic in patients living in temperate countries who have no history of travel in tropical countries or exotic food consumption are more and more frequently reported, suggesting that these species may not be restricted to particular geographic areas or natural niches (see the table in the supplemental material) (3,12,28,32).…”