MICROBIOTA BACTERIANA E ANTIBIOGRAMA DA CAVIDADE ORAL DE SERPENTES MANTIDAS SOB CUIDADOS HUMANOS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35172/rvz.2025.v32.1689Keywords:
antimicrobials, enterobacteria, bacterial isolation, reptiles, bacterial resistance, zoosAbstract
Modern zoos play an essential role in biodiversity conservation, contributing to the management of wild species kept under human care. Snakes can harbor bacteria with zoonotic potential in their oral cavity, posing a risk to the health of reptiles as well as other animals and humans. This study aimed to evaluate the bacterial microbiota of the oral cavity of snakes from the families Boidae, Colubridae, and Dipsadidae kept at the Quinzinho de Barros Municipal Zoo, in Sorocaba/SP, Brazil. The research was conducted through the collection of oral cavity samples from 30 snakes using sterile swabs. The samples were cultured in MacConkey Agar and subjected to biochemical tests, Gram staining, and antibiograms for bacterial identification and evaluation of antimicrobial sensitivity. The results indicated the presence of various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with Citrobacter freundii being the most prevalent species, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests demonstrated that Meropenem and Piperacillin were the most effective antibiotics, with sensitivity rates of 85.2%, while other drugs, such as ampicillin and cefotaxime, showed higher resistance, ranging from 40.7% to 59.3%. The techniques employed allowed mapping of the bacterial microbiota of the studied snakes' oral cavity and evaluation of antimicrobial resistance. These findings are fundamental for the development of sanitary management strategies and more effective treatments, reducing the risks of infections and bacterial resistance in snakes under human care.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Samanta Arruda Quile de Oliveira, Julia Mara Souza Eisenlohr, Mônica Rodrigues Alves, Beatriz Fernandes de Camargo, Jéssica Parisi, Bianca Gianola Belline Silva, Rodrigo Hidalgo Friciello Teixeira
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