Nasal, oral and rectal microbiota of Black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus)

Abstract

Black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) are endangered callithrichids. Their conservation may require future translocations or reintroductions; however these approaches involve risks of pathogen introduction in the environment and stress-related opportunistic infections in these animals. In order to screen for opportunistic and potential pathogenic bacterial and fungal microbiota, ten free-ranging and ten captive Black lion tamarins were studied and the results compared. Nasal, oral and rectal swabs were collected and cultured for aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria and fungi, and a total 203 bacterial and 84 fungal isolates were obtained. Overall, the most frequent organisms were Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. Microbiota of free-ranging and captive animals were similar in composition. A number of potentially pathogenic organisms were identified, emphasizing the importance of microbiological screening in future translocation or reintroduction conservation management programs.

Microbiota oral e retal de calitriquídeos (Callithrix sp.) em área antropizada de Mata Atlântica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

“…In the marmosets evaluated in this study, E. coli was seldom detected in the oral cavity, and was the second most frequent species isolated from swabs of the rectum (28.6%). Similar to our findings, a study evaluating free-living and captive Leontopithecus chrysopygus (Black Lion Tamarin) showed low frequency of E.coli in the oral cavity and high frequency (the most frequent bacterium) in the rectum (Carvalho et al, 2014). Bublitz et al (2015), aiming to investigate the presence of enterobacteria in free-living NHP, evaluated samples of feces of 24 lemurs from two different areas at the perimeter of a park on the island of Madagascar: 11 animals were sampled in an area where the forest was fully preserved and 13 animals were captured in an area that had undergone strong anthropic pressure, with presence of dwellings, practice of agriculture, and raising of domestic animals.…”

“…In this kind of incident, there is also the risk of transmission of viral agents such as rabies virus and herpesvirus (Haddad Junior et al, 2013;Sobreira et al, 2019). In the present study, the bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of marmosets, are regarded as potentially pathogenic to humans, may cause severe infection, including abscess formation at the bite site (Burke et al, 2009;Carvalho et al, 2014;Sales, 2015;Singh et al, 2016;Cruz et al, 2017;Shigeno et al, 2018).…”

“…and Listeria sp. (Burke et al, 2009;Carvalho et al, 2014;Sales, 2015;Cruz et al, 2017;Shigeno et al, 2018;Takehara et al, 2019). In humans, these bacteria may constitute important opportunistic pathogens that promote severe conditions of urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis, liver abscesses, and septicemia (Carrier et al, 2009;Singh et al, 2016).…”

Oral microbiota and their antibiotic susceptibility in free-living monkeys in Goiás State, Brazil: Repercussions for injuries in humans

“…The presence of these bacteria is a consequence of the habits of Sapajus libidinosus, as they constantly put their contaminated hands, which may contain fecal material, in their mouths, and they often lick each other. E. coli are important agents of enteric diseases, specifically diarrhea, and they have been isolated from black lion tamarins (Leontopithecus chrysopygus) in captivity and are associated with morbidity and mortality 19 . In addition to the impact that E. coli can have on the health of Sapajus libidinosus, there is also the risk of transmission to humans in cases of bites.…”

Identification of enterobacteria in free-living nonhuman primates in an urban park in the northern Region of the State of Paraná, Brazil

“…Serratia rubidaea is detected mainly in humans with severe trauma or underlying diseases, including sepsis, bacteremia, and urinary tract infections (BONNIN et al, 2015), but it has also been found in black-lion-tamarins in Rio de Janeiro (CARVALHO et al, 2014).…”