Species of tegu (Tupinambis) are the largest lizards in South America. Large numbers of these lizards are hunted; there is a vigorous trade in their skins and the meat is consumed by rural and native peoples. The animals are also bred in captivity, an economic activity for rural populations which can help in the animals' conservation. Faecal samples from 30 captive-born tegus were analysed for the presence of Salmonella in two separate samplings. In the first analysis, samples from 26 animals (87%) yielded Salmonella enterica of which 23% were of Rubislaw serotype; 20% Carrau and Agona serotypes; 7% Infantis and Saint-Paul serotypes; 3% Panama and Brandenburg serotypes; 10% were S. enterica subsp. enterica and 7% were rough form. In the second analysis, four tegus (13%) which had been negative in the first sampling were positive, thus, 100% of the animals studied carried the bacterium. Antibiotic susceptibility showed resistance to sulfonamide in 82% of the isolates, streptomycin in 64%, tetracycline in 6% and Chloramphenicol in 20%. Two animals carried strains of the same serotype with different patterns of antibiotic susceptibility. Although it is well known that reptiles are a significant source of Salmonella, to our knowledge, its prevalence in tegu has not been studied previously.

Methods of screening Bt collections on the basis of feeding bioassays can be misleading with regards to identifying more promising isolates for biocontrol purposes if physiological differences are not considered. The consequences and implications of these findings for the development of experimental systems that depend on toxicity bioassays to identify alternative Bt strains and entomotoxins with practical applicability have been discussed.

The goal of this study was to assess the presence and surfactant potential of naturally occurring microbes from a tropical soil with petrochemical contamination. Microorganisms in a soil sample from a Brazilian landfarm were isolated and grown on petroleum as the sole carbon source. Of 60 isolates screened for petroleum-based growth, 7 demonstrated surfactant activities by the drop-collapse methodology over various types of oils. From their growth profiles in liquid culture during 132 h, all had their first detection of surfactant activity after 96 h. Little is currently known about biosurfactant-producing microorganisms in tropical environments contaminated by hydrophobic compounds, and the search for them is essential for bioremediation and for oil recovery enhanced by microbes. Our results indicate that different petroleum-grown microorganisms showing surfactant activity can be recovered from landfarm soil in a tropical environment.

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The snakes constitute a group of reptiles used in different purposes, as pets, adornment, in the human feeding, skin exploitation and researches. The salmonelosis is an enteric illness of variable severity in humans and animals, with high morbidity and economic impact. The aim of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in captive snakes using the standard microbiological method and variations of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Thirty one fecal samples from snakes maintained in captivity in the Laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology of State University of Santa Cruz and in Serpentarium of the Executive Commission of Cocoa Crop Plan (CEPLAC) in Ilhéus/BA were collected. The samples were analyzed with traditional procedures for the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and molecular method using specific primers ST11 and ST15. Through PCR, using three types of samplings, (i) direct bacterial pool, (ii) enriched pool in peptone water buffered and (iii) amplification of the pure culture, were considered positive 55% in the direct bacterial pool, 65% in the enriched pool in peptone water buffered and 100% in the bacterial pure culture DNA. Using the standard method of isolating 58% were positive, being 39 Salmonella strains isolated.Key words: Salmonellosis, reptile, microbial diagnosis, PCR.Detecção de Salmonella em serpentes de cativeiro por isolamento tradicional e PCR específico. As serpentes constituem um grupo de répteis usado para diferentes finalidades, como animais de estimação, na alimentação humana, na exploração da pele e em pesquisas diversas. A salmonelose é uma doença entérica de gravidade variável nos seres humanos e animais, com alta morbidade e impacto econômico. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a prevalência de Salmonella spp. em serpentes cativas utilizando o diagnóstico microbiológico tradicional e variações da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR). Foram coletadas trinta e uma amostras fecais de serpentes mantidas em cativeiro no Laboratório de Zoologia da Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz e Serpentário da Comissão Executiva do Plano de Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPLAC), em Ilhéus/BA. As amostras foram analisadas com procedimentos tradicionais para a prevalência de Salmonella spp. e foram confirmados por métodos moleculares utilizando-se os primers específicos ST11 e ST15. Para a realização da PCR foram utilizadas três tipos de amostragem: (i) amostra direta, (ii) amostra enriquecida em água peptonada tamponada e (iii) amostra da cultura pura. Foram considerados positivos para Salmonella spp. 55% na amostra direta, 65% no pool enriquecido em água peptonada tamponada e 100% nas amostras de cultura pura. A partir do isolamento tradicional 58% das amostras analisadas foram positivas, sendo isoladas 39 cepas de Salmonella spp.Palavras-chave: Salmonelose, répteis, diagnóstico microbiológico, PCR.