Yeast microbiota of natural cavities of manatees (Trichechus inunguis and Trichechus manatus) in Brazil and its relevance for animal health and management in captivity

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the yeast microbiota of natural cavities of manatees kept in captivity in Brazil. Sterile swabs from the oral cavity, nostrils, genital opening, and rectum of 50 Trichechus inunguis and 26 Trichechus manatus were collected. The samples were plated on Sabouraud agar with chloramphenicol and incubated at 25 °C for 5 days. The yeasts isolated were phenotypically identified by biochemical and micromorphological tests. Overall, 141 strains were isolated, of which 112 were from T. inunguis (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis, Candida metapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida pelliculosa, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida famata, Candida krusei, Candida norvegensis, Candida ciferri, Trichosporon sp., Rhodotorula sp., Cryptococcus laurentii) and 29 were from T. manatus (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. famata, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, Rhodotorula sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Rhodotorula minuta, Trichosporon sp.). This was the first systematic study to investigate the importance of yeasts as components of the microbiota of sirenians, demonstrating the presence of potentially pathogenic species, which highlights the importance of maintaining adequate artificial conditions for the health of captive manatees.

Antifungal Resistance and Virulence Among Candida spp. from Captive Amazonian manatees and West Indian Manatees: Potential Impacts on Animal and Environmental Health

“…These isolates were recovered on Petri dishes containing Sabouraud dextrose 2% agar plus chloramphenicol (0.05 g/L), and identified through phenotypical characteristics, such as macromorphological and micromorphological analyses and biochemical tests, including urease production, carbohydrate and nitrogen assimilation and carbohydrate fermentation. The identification of cryptic specie (Candida albicans-Candida dubliniensis and Candida parapsilosis species Complex) was confirmed through molecular analyses (Sidrim et al 2015). The recovered Candida isolates are kept in the culture collection of the Specialized Medical Mycology Center (CEMM) and belong to the following species: C. albicans (52/105), C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (14/105), Candida orthopsilosis (4/105), Candida metapsilosis (3/105), Candida guilliermondii (12/105), Candida pelliculosa (3/105), Candida tropicalis (6/105), Candida glabrata (2/105), Candida famata (5/105), Candida ciferri (1/105), Candida norvegensis (1/105), and Candida krusei (2/105).…”

“…All animals received a single clinical score (poor, medium, good, or excellent) considering the nutritional status, presence of external lesions, clinical history and use of antimicrobials. Regarding T. inunguis, 88% (44/50) of the animals received excellent score, 8% (4/50) good and 4% (2/50) medium score, while 69.3% (18/26) T. manatus received excellent clinical score, 11.5% (3/26) good, 11.5% (3/26) medium, and 7.7% (2/26) poor (Sidrim et al 2015). Conditions for maintenance in captivity also varied, such as water treatment (chlorinated or untreated), salinity (salt or fresh) and density of animals per tank.…”

“…The Candida isolates analyzed in this study were recovered from the natural cavities (oral cavity, nostrils, genital opening, and rectum), of 50 Amazonian manatees (T. inunguis) and 26 West Indian manatees (T. manatus). Biological samples for yeast recovery were collected from each anatomical site, through the insertion of sterile cotton swabs (Sidrim et al 2015). The assessed animals are held in captivity at three Brazilian institutions that have rescue, rehabilitation and release programs with these species: Centro de Preservação e Pesquisa de Mamíferos Aquáticos (CPPMA)/Eletrobras Amazonas Energia, in the State of Amazonas, where the Amazonian manatees were maintained, and Centro Mamíferos Aquáticos (CMA/ICMBio), in the State of Pernambuco, and Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos (AQUASIS), in the State of Ceará, where the West Indian manatees were maintained.…”

Advances in the knowledge of the biology and conservation of the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis)

“…A systematic investigation to characterize the yeast microbiota of captive Amazonian manatees detected at least 12 different species of Candida in their natural cavities (oral cavity, nostrils, genital opening, and rectum), and the occurring rates seemed to be proportional to the number of individuals kept in each pool (Sidrim et al, 2015). Investigation of these microorganisms' resistance to antifungal susceptibility tests revealed that C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. guilliermondii were resistant to itraconazole and fluconazole (Sidrim et al, 2016).…”

Infectious and Non-Infectious Diseases in Manatees in Brazil

“…Em estudo conduzido por Sidrim et al [52] sobre as leveduras da microbiota das cavidades naturais (oral, nasal, genital e retal) em peixes-bois de…”