Association of the Genus Acinetobacter with the Decomposition of a Swine Carcass and the Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Strain of Acinetobacter sp. P4

Abstract

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and a selective and differential medium, Acinetobacter numbers were enumerated over the time course of decomposition, from fresh to putrid/dry, of a swine carcass. In addition, Acinetobacter diversity and succession were also characterized. Acinetobacter bacterial counts were observed to be the lowest before exposure (undetectable) and increased to their highest during active decay then decreased and leveled during advanced decay through putrid/dry. FISH analysis revealed Acinetobacter cells were mostly clustered together, which is consistent with growth in a non-mixed environment, such as soil. The abundance of Acinetobacter cells decreased from active decomposition to putrid/dry. BLAST analysis using the 16S rRNA-gene sequence identified the isolates as one of the following Acinetobacter spp: A. baumannii, A. haemolyticus, A. junii, A. johnsonii, and A. gerneri. Phenotypic description of the identified isolates closely matched those of known genomic species. One isolate, P4, was observed to be unique in its phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics and was more closely related to A. sp E10. The isolates from this study displayed multi-antibiotic resistance. The results from the study revealed the association of Acinetobacter spp. with that of carrion which adds to our knowledge of the ecology of this genus along with the potential implications of infection for this opportunistic pathogen.

Dissecting the microbial community structure of internal organs during the early postmortem period in a murine corpse model

“…Acinetobacter immediately increased in abundance at hour 8 in brain samples (Fig. S1), which is an aerobic, non fermentative, gram-negative pathogenic bacilli and previously reported in a swine carcass using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) [26]. Cupriavidus and Agrobacterium were increased after 8 h of decomposition in brain samples.…”

Self-Report of Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack, or Stroke Symptoms and Risk of Future Stroke in the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

“…Incremental models were fit to assess the influence of groups of covariates: 1) demographics, 2) then adding socioeconomic status (defined by highest education obtained and household income), and 3) adding stroke risk factors. As there was some racial difference in terms of medical records obtained, we applied a mathematical correction for the final model to ensure that this bias did not alter our results 15 . We included the following covariates in all final models: age, race, sex, region of residence, education, income, alcohol intake, current smoking, and a history of diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, and dyslipidemia.…”

An Experiment to Characterize the Decomposer Community Associated with Carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus) on Oahu, Hawaii

“…These microbes contribute significantly to decomposition (e.g., putrefaction) and can release volatile organic compounds that attract insects and scavengers . Recent postmortem microbiology has demonstrated that bacterial phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria are regularly associated with decomposing remains regardless of carcass species, season, or soil type . However, despite the surge of interest in postmortem microbiology, few studies have investigated the microbial communities associated with insect larval masses.…”