Choanal and cloacal aerobic bacterial flora in captive green iguanas: a comparative analysis

Romero, Silvia Barazorda; Čížek, Alois; Masaříková, Martina; Knotek, Z.

doi:10.2754/avb201584010019

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Iguana species can carry in their intestines Salmonella species (17,18) and Escherichia coli (19)(20)(21). The prevalence of E. coli in iguana species ranges from 40 to 70%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in the Ricord's iguana (Cyclura ricordi) the prevalence reported was 50% (22), while in the land iguana (Conolophus pallidus) from the Galapagos Island it was 70.83% (19). Regarding the green iguana, studies have reported an E. coli prevalence of 40% (21) and 53.2% (18). To the best of our knowledge, whether the green iguana can carry DEC pathotypes has not been previously investigated and it was the main motivation for this study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Captive Green Iguana Carries Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes

et al. 2020

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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.

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“…Iguana species can carry in their intestines Salmonella species (17,18) and Escherichia coli (19)(20)(21). The prevalence of E. coli in iguana species ranges from 40 to 70%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Captive Green Iguana Carries Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes

et al. 2020

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“…Currently, many species of snakes are raised as pet animals, and good knowledge of their physiological and behavioral needs allows for proper management in captivity, where the goal is to create a domestic habitat similar to that of their origin (Stahl, 2002; Mitchell, 2004). The specific environmental conditions of the terrarium, such as temperature, humidity, aeration, moisture and organic substances, are favorable growth factors for commensal microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens (Ebani & Fratini, 2005; Romero et al, 2015). Snakes could become spreaders of potentially pathogenic bacteria, which can represent a serious threat to themselves and humans (Goldstein et al, 1981; Ebani & Fratini, 2005; Romero et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence ofPseudomonas aeruginosaand multidrug resistantPseudomonas aeruginosain healthy captive ophidian

Sala

Ianni

Pelizzone

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Background Snakes are globally considered as pet animals, and millions of ophidians are bred in captivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterium that can act as an opportunistic pathogen of man and animals and is frequently present in the oral and cloacal microbiota of healthy ophidians. It can cause severe clinical diseases and often shows antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of P. aeruginosa isolated from the cloacal microbiota of a large population sample of healthy captive ophidians and to evaluate the statistical associations with farming conditions. Methods A total of 419 cloacal swabs were collected from snakes belonging to the Boidae (n = 45), Colubridae (n = 48) and Pythonidae (n = 326) families and inoculated onto complete culture media. Food, water and bedding samples were also analyzed. The antimicrobial susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolates was evaluated through the Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion test. Statistical analyses were performed with the chi-square test. Results The prevalence of P. aeruginosa was 59.9%, and 35.5% of these strains were multidrug resistant (MDR). The prevalence of MDR P. aeruginosa was significantly higher in adult samples than in young samples, and widespread resistance to Cephalosporins, Polymyxins and Sulfonamides was observed. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of P. aeruginosa were observed depending on the farm size and snake family. Feeding thawed prey was associated with a higher P. aeruginosa and MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. Moreover, snakes fed home-raised prey had a significantly higher MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence than snakes fed commercially available feed. Less frequent terrarium cleaning was associated with a higher MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. On the other hand, snake reproductive status was not significantly associated with P. aeruginosa or MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. All food, water and bedding samples were negative for P. aeruginosa presence. Discussion The overall P. aeruginosa prevalence found in this study was lower than that found by other authors, but a high proportion of the isolates were MDR. This study highlighted the presence of constitutive (such as age and taxonomic family) and managerial (farm size, cleaning cycle frequency and food type) factors associated with P. aeruginosa and/or MDR P. aeruginosa prevalence. Good breeding management and proper antibiotic treatment of P. aeruginosa infections could help reduce the presence of P. aeruginosa and MDR P. aeruginosa in the gut microbiota of snakes and consequently reduce the risk to public health.

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“…Iguana species can carry in their intestines Salmonella species (16, 17) and Escherichia coli (18–20). The prevalence of E. coli in iguana species ranges from 40 to 70 %.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in the Ricord’s iguana ( Cyclura ricordi ) the prevalence reported was 50% (21), while in the land iguana ( Conolophus pallidus ) from the Galapagos Island it was 70.83 % (18). Regarding the green iguana, studies have reported an E. coli prevalence of 40 % (20) and 53.2 % (17). To the best of our knowledge, whether the green iguana can carry DEC pathotypes has not been previously investigated and it was the main motivation for this study.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Captive green iguana is a reservoir of diarrheogenicEscherichia colipathotypes

Bautista-Trujillo

Gutiérrez-Miceli

Mandujano-García

et al. 2019

Preprint

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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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Choanal and cloacal aerobic bacterial flora in captive green iguanas: a comparative analysis

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

Captive Green Iguana Carries Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes

Captive Green Iguana Carries Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes

The prevalence ofPseudomonas aeruginosaand multidrug resistantPseudomonas aeruginosain healthy captive ophidian

Captive green iguana is a reservoir of diarrheogenicEscherichia colipathotypes

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