OCCURRENCE OFPASTEURELLACEAEBACTERIA IN THE ORAL CAVITY OF THE TASMANIAN DEVIL (SARCOPHILUS HARRISII)

Abstract

The occurrence of bacteria belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae in the oral cavity of captive Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) was investigated using phenotypic and subsequent genotypic characterization and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 62 bacterial isolates obtained from Tasmanian devils, tentatively classified with the family Pasteurellaceae, were further characterized by phylogenetic analysis of rpoB gene sequence similarity, which showed that the isolates investigated formed five distinct groups. A total of 15 strains formed a novel genus-like group within Pasteurellaceae. Thirty-six strains grouped with the type strain of Frederiksenia canicola. Five strains clustered with the type strain of Pasteurella multocida . Interestingly, four of the P. multocida-like strains were β-hemolytic when incubated on blood agar, which is atypical for this genus. Five strains grouped with a 100% rpoB similarity with Pasteurella dagmatis. Finally, a single strain showed 97.1% resemblance to Haemophilus haemoglobinophilus. The results demonstrate that Tasmanian devils are hosting a variety of bacterial taxa affiliated with the family of Pasteurellaceae as part of their oral microflora.

Pasteurellaceae bacteria from the oral cavity of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus Harrisii ) show high minimum inhibitory concentration values towards aminoglycosides and clindamycin

“…; Brix et al . ). For this reason it cannot be affirmed whether the isolates are sensitive or resistant, but by assessing whether the MIC values fit into the low, middle or high end of the concentration range, respectively, their susceptibility status can, at least partly, be predicted.…”

“…This study appears to be the first to report MIC values of Pasteurellaceae isolated from Tasmanian devils. Since many of the strains in this study represent relatively recently described species, breakpoints have not yet been established for these bacteria (Korczak et al 2014;Brix et al 2015). For this reason it cannot be affirmed whether the isolates are sensitive or resistant, but by assessing whether the MIC values fit into the low, middle or high end of the concentration range, respectively, their susceptibility status can, at least partly, be predicted.…”

“…Based on phenotypic and subsequent genotypic characterization by rpoB gene sequencing, the bacterial isolates were identified and divided into five distinct groups (Brix et al . ). To ensure maximal variability, the isolates for the current study were selected from all five groups and with maximal genetic variability within the groups (Table ).…”

“… Strain identification was done by phenotypic testings followed by rpoB gene sequencing using blast and GenBank (Brix et al . ). …”

“…AMI, Amikacin; AUG, Amoxicillin/Clavulanic (Brix et al 2015). To ensure maximal variability, the isolates for the current study were selected from all five groups and with maximal genetic variability within the groups (Table 3).…”