Bacterial microbiota present in the gallbladder of cattle and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus isolates

Abstract

Pathogenic microorganisms can reside transiently or permanently in the gallbladder of cattle. Thus, during slaughter, more attention should be given to the gastrointestinal tract, especially to the accessory organ, the gallbladder. The main aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial microbiota present in bile and gallbladder epithelium of cattle slaughtered in a slaughtering plant under sanitary conditions and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance in strains of the genus Staphylococcus. Thirty intact gallbladders were collected and the in bile and epithelium were researched for the presence of Aerobic Mesophilic Heterotrophic Bacteria (AMHB), Staphylococcus spp., total Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus spp. and Salmonella spp. The frequency of isolation of the microorganism mentioned above were, respectively: 23.02%, 14.39%, 13.67%, 24.46%, 0% and 24.46%. Concerning both gallbladder environments, the frequency of isolation of the microorganisms in the epithelium was 64.03%, and in the bile 35.97%, with no statistical difference, but with significant difference between the population averages. In antimicrobial susceptibility testing, strains of Staphylococcus from both bile and gallbladder epithelium showed sensitivity to the antimicrobials: penicillin G, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol and gentamicin. The observation that the gallbladder supports a high frequency of microorganisms brings us to the possible fact that cattle might be a persistent carrier of pathogens of great importance to public health.

Cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis with secondary necrotizing hepatitis and cholangiohepatitis in a dairy cow

“…However, in cattle, gallstones occur most commonly in the gallbladder without further clinical signs and aged animals are more propense to calculi formation due to low bile production and reduced flow (1,3,10). Microbiota of the bile and gallbladder epithelium with calculi were assessed in Brazil, with a result of multiple species of bacteria (4). Thus, given the scarcity of studies on cholelithiasis with clinical signs and the absence of reports of choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis in cattle, this article aims to report a case of cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis and hepatolithiasis in a dairy cow.…”