Bacteriology

Plasma antibacterial activities in ornate (Terrapene ornata) and eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina)

“…Salmonella spp. can cause a variety of disease presentations in reptiles including enteritis, hepatitis, osteomyelitis, and sepsis, and are an important regulatory force for the companion reptile industry due to the potential for zoonotic transmission and subsequent human infection (Jacobson, 2007; Wellehan & Divers, 2019). These bacteria are commonly identified in captive chelonians secondary to stress and poor husbandry, but are infrequently detected by culture or PCR from free‐living turtles (Brenner, Lewbart, Stebbins, & Herman, 2002; Dipineto et al, 2012; Kodjo et al, 1997; Richards, Brown, Kelly, Fountain, & Sleeman, 2004; Saelinger, Lewbart, Christian, & Lemons, 2006).…”

“…are rarely associated with disease in reptiles, though various Staphylococcus spp. have been detected in chelonian stomatitis lesions, S. epidermidis has been isolated from aural abscesses in box turtles (Joyner, Brown, Holladay, & Sleeman, 2006), S. aureus and Pasteurella multocida were isolated from American alligators ( Alligator mississippiensis ) with respiratory disease (Jacobson, 2007), and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus has been cultured from a subspectacular abscess in a Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) and a dermatitis lesion in a pet turtle (species not specified; Lee & Kim, 2011; Walther et al, 2008; Wellehan & Divers, 2019). The exact reason for the disparity in box turtle antibacterial activity against different Staphylococcus spp.…”

“…C. freundi and B. subtilis are considered normal gastrointestinal flora in eastern box turtles (Wellehan & Divers, 2019). While Bacillus spp.…”

“…can be associated with septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease and aural abscesses and Enterobacter spp. have been identified in stomatitis lesions and aural abscesses (Jacobson, 2007; Joyner et al, 2006; Rasmussen et al, 2017; Wellehan & Divers, 2019; Willer, Lewbart, & Lemons, 2003). Both box turtle species had moderate plasma antibacterial activity against E. cloacae and C. freundi , consistent with previous studies in snapping turtles and prairie rattlesnakes (Baker & Merchant, 2018a; Baker, Kessler, & Merchant, 2019).…”

“…Shigella spp. are important causes of illness in humans, but are rarely associated with clinical signs in reptiles (Chinnadurai & De Voe, 2009; Wellehan & Divers, 2019). Ornate box turtles may have superior plasma antibacterial activity against these organisms due to higher levels of natural exposure compared to eastern box turtles.…”