BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL MICROFLORA PRESENT IN THE CLOACAE OF DOMESTICALLY KEPT RED-FOOTED TORTOISES (Geochelone carbonaria).

Abstract

The popularity of tortoises kept as pets is increasing and has caused concern regarding its impact on public and animal health. There is a lack of studies involving the isolation of bacteria and fungi from cloacae of reptiles. This study aimed to investigate bacterial and fungal agents in the cloacae of a hundred Red-footed tortoises (Geochelone carbonaria) domestically kept, as well as to survey for virulence genes in Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. using PCR. A great diversity of bacterial genera (18) and fungi (9) were recovered. The microorganisms most frequently isolated were: Escherichia coli (67%), Klebsiella spp. (54%), Bacillus spp. (42%), Candida spp. (42%), Citrobacter spp. (33%), Staphylococcus spp. (29%), Aeromonas spp. (15%) and Salmonella spp. (7%). All Salmonella spp. isolates were positive for the invasion gene invA. None of the E.coli isolates was positive for virulence genes associated with enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic and extraintestinal E. coli. Proper husbandry measures when owning a tortoise, especially regarding hygiene aspects, are necessary since they aim at the prevention of different microorganisms some, of which harboring virulence genes.