Microbiota bacteriana oral de la tortuga del bolsón Gopherus flavomarginatus en la Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, México

Abstract

The community of oral bacteria of the Bolson tortoise, Gopherus flavomarginatus, was determined at the Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, México by massive sequencing. During 2015, samples of 5 males and 5 females apparently healthy were collected; DNA was extracted, V3-V4 16S rRNA regions were amplified, sequencing was carried out with Illumina, and EzBioCloud was used as the reference taxonomic base. No significant difference was observed in the oral microbiota between sexes. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla, as well as the class Gammaproteobacteria, and the order Pasteurellales. Pasteurellaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Micrococcaceae were the most abundant families. Among taxa potentially pathogenic for tortoises, we documented molecularly the presence of Mycoplasma, and Pasteurella testudinis in G. flavomarginatus; both are considered as possible participants in causing upper respiratory disease in other Gopherus species. Genus Bergeyella is reported for the first time in the oral cavity of a reptile; this zoonotic bacteria had only been reported as part of the oral microbiome of canines and felines. This information provides an oral bacterial diversity baseline for this species that will contribute to and improve current conservation and management plans.

Microbiome diversity and composition varies across body areas in a freshwater turtle

“…Our results differed strongly from the results of an HTS study on the buccal cavities of Bolson tortoises ( Gopherus flavomarginatus ) [42]. Both García-De la Peña et al .…”

“…[42] and our study found high levels of Proteobacteria , but levels were higher in García-De la Peña et al . [42] (mean=59 %) than in our study [mean (for buccal samples)=37.3 % of reads, sd =7.0]. Furthermore, García-De la Peña et al .…”

“…Furthermore, García-De la Peña et al . [42] reported moderate levels of Actinobacteria (15%) and Firmicutes (10%), both of which were rare in our buccal samples (mean=3.1 and 3.4 % of reads, respectively, sd =2.4 and 3.1). Additionally, Bacteroidetes dominated our buccal samples (mean=40.2 % of reads, sd =11.0), but were not abundant in García-De la Peña et al .…”

“…Additionally, Bacteroidetes dominated our buccal samples (mean=40.2 % of reads, sd =11.0), but were not abundant in García-De la Peña et al . [42] (mean=7 %). At the family level, García-De la Peña et al .…”

“…Few studies have examined turtle microbiomes, and, as often is the case in turtle research, the literature is taxonomically biased, with most studies focusing on sea turtles [27–34] and their eggs [35–39], followed by tortoises [40–45]. These groups are certainly important and more studies should be conducted on them (particularly expanding the number of species covered), but these taxonomic groups are highly ecologically divergent from most turtle species, and they only represent three turtle families and 20 % of extant species [9].…”