Diversity of the endophytic fungi associated with the ancient and narrowly endemic neotropical plant Vellozia gigantea from the endangered Brazilian rupestrian grasslands

This study focused on the taxonomy and diversity of the endophytic fungi associated with Vellozia gigantea, an endemic, ancient, and endangered plant species that occurs only in the rupestrian grasslands of Brazil. A total of 285 fungal isolates were recovered from leaves and roots of the V. gigantea, which were identified in 27 genera and 87 different taxa using molecular taxonomy methods. Xylaria berteri, Diaporthe sp. 1, Nigrospora oryzae, Muscodor sp. 1, Colletotrichum aeschynomene, and Trichoderma viride occurred in the highest frequency in both the leaf and root. Diaporthe was the most abundant genus, with 70 endophytic isolates recovered from the leaves and roots. Among all the taxa identified, 62 occurred as singlets, including those of the genera Clonostachys, Coccomyces, Crucellisporiopsis, Daldinia, Myxotrichum, Pallidocercospora, Pezicula, Peyronellaea, and Pseudocercospora. The diversity indices displayed high values, showing that V. gigantea shelters a diverse and rich mycobiota. Our results indicate that V. gigantea shelters in its tissues a highly diverse and cryptic mycobiota, including several rare species previously unreported as endophytes, but that are reported to have different ecological functions, which might be an important biological component contributing to the fitness of the plants living in the rupestrian grassland.     

Identification of Ochratoxin A Producing Fungi Associated with Fresh and Dry Liquorice

The presence of fungi on liquorice could contaminate the crop and result in elevated levels of mycotoxin. In this study, the mycobiota associated with fresh and dry liquorice was investigated in 3 producing regions of China. Potential toxigenic fungi were tested for ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Based on a polyphasic approach using morphological characters, β-tubulin and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene phylogeny, a total of 9 genera consisting of 22 fungal species were identified, including two new Penicillium species (Penicillium glycyrrhizacola sp. nov. and Penicillium xingjiangense sp. nov.). The similarity of fungal communities associated with fresh and dry liquorice was low. Nineteen species belonging to 8 genera were detected from fresh liquorice with populations affiliated with P. glycyrrhizacola, P. chrysogenum and Aspergillus insuetus comprising the majority (78.74%, 33.33% and 47.06% of total) of the community from Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang samples, respectively. In contrast, ten species belonging to 4 genera were detected from dry liquorice with populations affiliated with P. chrysogenum, P. crustosum and Aspergillus terreus comprising the majority (64.00%, 52.38% and 90.91% of total) of the community from Gansu, Ningxia and Xinjiang samples, respectively. Subsequent LC/MS/MS analysis indicated that 5 fungal species were able to synthesize OTA in vitro including P. chrysogenum, P. glycyrrhizacola, P. polonicum, Aspergillus ochraceus and A. westerdijkiae, the OTA concentration varied from 12.99 to 39.03 µg/kg. AFB1 was absent in all tested strains. These results demonstrate the presence of OTA producing fungi on fresh liquorice and suggest that these fungi could survive on dry liquorice after traditional sun drying. Penicillium chrysogenum derived from surrounding environments is likely to be a stable contributor to high OTA level in liquorice. The harvesting and processing procedure needs to be monitored in order to keep liquorice free of toxigenic fungi.     

Psychrophilic and Psychrotolerant Fungi on Bats and the Presence of Geomyces spp. on Bat Wings Prior to the Arrival of White Nose Syndrome

Since 2006, Geomyces destructans, the causative agent of white nose syndrome (WNS), has killed over 5.7 million bats in North America. The current hypothesis suggests that this novel fungus is an invasive species from Europe, but little is known about the diversity within the genus Geomyces and its distribution on bats in the United States. We documented the psychrophilic and psychrotolerant fungal flora of hibernating bats prior to the arrival of WNS using culture-based techniques. A total of 149 cultures, which were obtained from 30 bats in five bat hibernacula located in four caves and one mine, were sequenced for the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) region. Approximately 53 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity were recovered from bat wings, with the community dominated by fungi within the genera Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geomyces, Mortierella, Penicillium, and Trichosporon. Eleven Geomyces isolates were obtained and placed in at least seven distinct Geomyces clades based on maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses. Temperature experiments revealed that all Geomyces strains isolated are psychrotolerant, unlike G. destructans, which is a true psychrophile. Our results confirm that a large diversity of fungi, including several Geomyces isolates, occurs on bats prior to the arrival of WNS. Most of these isolates were obtained from damaged wings. Additional studies need to be conducted to determine potential ecological roles of these abundant Geomyces strains isolated from bats.     

Diversity of endophytic mycobiota in Fortunearia sinensis

Fortunearia sinensis is an endemic species of arbor to China. The diversity of endophytic fungi of F. sinensis was preliminarily studied in order to understand the composition and change of mycobiota. 1436 strains of endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy laminae, petioles and twigs of F. sinensis located in Baohua mountain of Jiangsu province separately in spring and autumn. The isolation rate amounted to 53%. The isolates were identified and classified into 33 genera based on the morphological characters and ITS sequences. Alternaria, Fusarium and Pestalotiopsis were three dominant genera with the relative abundance of 21.52%, 19.64% and 13.16%, respectively. 498 isolates belonging to 27 genera of endophytic fungi were obtained from tested petiole samples of F. sinensis. The Shannon–Wiener index and Margalef index of endophytic fungi in the petiole were respectively 2.77 and 2.90 which were larger than those in the lamina and twig. 1076 isolates belonging to 27 genera of endophytic fungi were obtained in tissue samples of F. sinensis collected in autumn. Endophytic fungi of F. sinensis in autumn with the Shannon–Wiener index of 2.69 and Margalef index of 2.58 were more diverse than in spring.     

Assessment of Anthropogenic Influence on Antarctic Mycobiota in Areas of Russian Polar Stations

This article presents the results of microscopic fungi complexes in the areas of five Russian polar stations in East Antarctica and the Subantarctic. A total of 104 microfungal species have been identified. Seventyseven fungal species have been detected in samples of soils and anthropogenic materials from polar stations of East Antarctica (Progress, Mirny, Molodezhnaya, and Druzhnaya 4) using mycological methods while, in the Bellingshausen station (Subantarctic), we have isolated 87 micromycete species. The number of fungi in soils varies from individual propagules in control soils to 94000 per 1 g of soil in contaminated areas. The largest number of species is represented by the genus Penicillium (26 species). Fungal species that form the core of mycobiota in most of the studied habitats have been identified. For soils of East Antarctica, it is formed by species of the genera Aureobasidium, Cadophora, Pseudogymnoascus (Geomyces), Thelebolus, and Phoma. Significant differences are established between the mycobiota of East Antarctica and that of the Subantarctic. At the same time, a general trend towards an increase in fungal species diversity and number in the areas of polar stations compared to the control (clean) sites for all studied areas is recorded. These data indicate that a significant part of micromycetes is introduced into the Antarctic by humans (anthropogenic invasion).     

Mycobiota associated with larval mines of Thrypticus truncatus and T. sagittatus (Diptera, Dolichopodidae) on waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, in Argentina

Thrypticus truncatus is a candidate agent for biocontrol of waterhyacinth; the larvae of this diptera mine in the petioles and feed on the phloem in the vascular bundles. The mycobiota associated with T. truncatus and T. sagittatus mines was investigated during two surveys undertaken in the spring and autumn in the Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina. Isolations were made from the mines and larval feeding points, as well as from the larvae, following dissection of the petioles, and plated onto agar. Young and upper parts of the petioles without Thrypticus mines were used as controls. Twenty eight fungal species were isolated from the mines. Pestalotiopsis guepinii, Mucor attenuatus, Phoma tropica, Achlya americana, Fusarium avenaceum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Clonostachys rosea, Epicoccum purpurascens, Plectosporium tabacinum, Alternaria alternata, and Acremonium sp. were the most common fungi associated with mines and feeding points. Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cytospora sp., Mucor attenuatus, and Phoma tropica were associated with the larval body. The list of fungi in mines was compared with bibliographic information to determine if the species are known pathogens on waterhyacinth or other plant species. This is the first study on mycobiota associated with T. truncatus and T. sagittatus mines in waterhyacinth petioles in Argentina.     

Fungal biodiversity in indoor environments in Havana, Cuba

A study was made of the indoor mycobiota in a range of public and private buildings (libraries, museums, laboratories and offices, warehouses, homes and a school) in the city of Havana (Cuba). Culturable airborne fungi were sampled using a slit-to-agar impactor (Chirana aeroscope). High levels of contamination were recorded, with more than 700 colony-forming units per cubic metre of air in 85% of the buildings sampled, and more than 1,000 in 55% of buildings. Of the 28 genera and 31 species identified, the most common were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium sphaerospermum. Genus and species diversity was analysed, and new findings were obtained regarding Cuba’s atmospheric ecosystem.     

Fungi utilizing keratinous substrates

One of the basic tasks in the field of biodeterioration is to recognise the microbial species responsible for the destruction of particular substrates, and to identify factors impacting the level of damage caused by microorganisms. Even in 1839, it was known that there existed some fungi capable of attacking keratinized tissues, although, at that time, only dermatophytes were recognised. The relevant literature pertaining to microbiological deterioration of keratinous substrates includes 299 fungi belonging to 100 genera. Representatives of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chrysosporium, Fusarium, Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Acremonium appear to be the most common. Of the 299 species collected, 107 belonging primarily to the Onygenales and Eurotiales are pathogenic to humans. The research focusing on microbial ability to colonize and destroy keratinous materials has been carried out mainly on sheep fleece, hairs, and feathers, but only a few authors have dealt with woollen fabric biodeterioration, which is of particular significance for the preservation of antique textiles.     

The Black Yeast Exophiala dermatitidis and Other Selected Opportunistic Human Fungal Pathogens Spread from Dishwashers to Kitchens

We investigated the diversity and distribution of fungi in nine different sites inside 30 residential dishwashers. In total, 503 fungal strains were isolated, which belong to 10 genera and 84 species. Irrespective of the sampled site, 83% of the dishwashers were positive for fungi. The most frequent opportunistic pathogenic species were Exophiala dermatitidis, Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Exophiala phaeomuriformis, Fusarium dimerum, and the Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces clade. The black yeast E. dermatitidis was detected in 47% of the dishwashers, primarily at the dishwasher rubber seals, at up to 10⁶ CFU/cm²; the other fungi detected were in the range of 10² to 10⁵ CFU/cm². The other most heavily contaminated dishwasher sites were side nozzles, doors and drains. Only F. dimerum was isolated from washed dishes, while dishwasher waste water contained E. dermatitidis, Exophiala oligosperma and Sarocladium killiense. Plumbing systems supplying water to household appliances represent the most probable route for contamination of dishwashers, as the fungi that represented the core dishwasher mycobiota were also detected in the tap water. Hot aerosols from dishwashers contained the human opportunistic yeast C. parapsilosis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and E. dermatitidis (as well as common air-borne genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma and Cladosporium). Comparison of fungal contamination of kitchens without and with dishwashers revealed that virtually all were contaminated with fungi. In both cases, the most contaminated sites were the kitchen drain and the dish drying rack. The most important difference was higher prevalence of black yeasts (E. dermatitidis in particular) in kitchens with dishwashers. In kitchens without dishwashers, C. parapsilosis strongly prevailed with negligible occurrence of E. dermatitidis. F. dimerum was isolated only from kitchens with dishwashers, while Saprochaete/Magnusiomyces isolates were only found within dishwashers. We conclude that dishwashers represent a reservoir of enriched opportunistic pathogenic species that can spread from the dishwasher into the indoor biome.     

Caracterización de la micobiota aérea en dos depósitos del Archivo Nacional de la República de Cuba

BackgroundThe high relative humidity and temperatures in tropical countries create favorable conditions for development of fungi that are not only a risk to human health but they can also colonize documentary support.AimsTo study the concentration of the airborne fungi in two repositories of the National Archives of the Republic of Cuba, the mycobiota deposited on different photographic supports and maps preserved in these repositories, and to determine the taxonomic characterization of the fungi isolated.MethodsThe air sampling was performed using a sedimentation method, and the supports (6 pictures and 7 maps) were analyzed using moistened sterile swabs.ResultsThe Cladosporium genus was predominant, followed by Aspergillus and Penicillium genera. Filamentous fungi were isolated in all the photos and maps, and yeasts were only isolated from a photographic supports and a map. We identified several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium genera, but Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus predominated. Candida and Rhodotorula were the yeast genera isolated.ConclusionsThe fungal concentration of the air demonstrated that the environments were not contaminated. From the 26 species of filamentous fungi isolated only 5 were detected in the indoor air of the repositories and on one or more of the document supports analyzed (representing a 19.3%). This shows that there is a low ecological relationship between the fungi detected in the indoor air and those that were isolated from the supports studied.     

Oligo-DNA custom macroarray for monitoring major pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi and bacteria in the phyllosphere of apple trees

Background

To monitor the richness in microbial inhabitants in the phyllosphere of apple trees cultivated under various cultural and environmental conditions, we developed an oligo-DNA macroarray for major pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi and bacteria inhabiting the phyllosphere of apple trees.

Methods and Findings

First, we isolated culturable fungi and bacteria from apple orchards by an agar-plate culture method, and detected 32 fungal and 34 bacterial species. Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Rhodotorula, Cystofilobasidium, and Epicoccum genera were predominant among the fungi, and Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Methylobacterium, and Pantoea genera were predominant among the bacteria. Based on the data, we selected 29 major non-pathogenic and 12 phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria as the targets of macroarray. Forty-one species-specific 40-base pair long oligo-DNA sequences were selected from the nucleotide sequences of rDNA-internal transcribed spacer region for fungi and 16S rDNA for bacteria. The oligo-DNAs were fixed on nylon membrane and hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes prepared for each species. All arrays except those for Alternaria, Bacillus, and their related species, were specifically hybridized. The array was sensitive enough to detect 10³ CFU for Aureobasidium pullulans and Bacillus cereus. Nucleotide sequencing of 100 each of independent fungal rDNA-ITS and bacterial 16S-rDNA sequences from apple tree was in agreement with the macroarray data obtained using the same sample. Finally, we analyzed the richness in the microbial inhabitants in the samples collected from apple trees in four orchards. Major apple pathogens that cause scab, Alternaria blotch, and Marssonina blotch were detected along with several non-phytopathogenic fungal and bacterial inhabitants.

Conclusions

The macroarray technique presented here is a strong tool to monitor the major microbial species and the community structures in the phyllosphere of apple trees and identify key species antagonistic, supportive or co-operative to specific pathogens in the orchard managed under different environmental conditions.     

Phylogenetic evaluation of Geomyces and allies reveals no close relatives of Pseudogymnoascus destructans, comb. nov., in bat hibernacula of eastern North America

White-nose syndrome (WNS)  of bats, caused by the fungus previously known as Geomyces destructans, has decimated populations of insectivorous bats in eastern North America. Recent work on fungi associated with bat hibernacula uncovered a large number of species of Geomyces and allies, far exceeding the number of described species. Communication about these species has been hindered by the lack of a modern taxonomic evaluation, and a phylogenetic framework of the group is needed to understand the origin of G. destructans and to target closely related species and their genomes for the purposes of understanding mechanisms of pathogenicity. We addressed these issues by generating DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA, MCM7, RPB2, and TEF1 from a diverse array of Geomyces and allies that included isolates recovered from bat hibernacula as well as those that represent important type species. Phylogenetic analyses indicate Geomyces and allies should be classified in the family Pseudeurotiaceae, and the genera Geomyces, Gymnostellatospora, and Pseudogymnoascus should be recognized as distinct. True Geomyces are restricted to a basal lineage based on phylogenetic placement of the type species, Geomyces auratus. Thus, G. destructans is placed in genus Pseudogymnoascus. The closest relatives of Pseudogymnoascus destructans are members of the Pseudogymnoascus roseus species complex, however, the isolated and long branch of P. destructans indicates that none of the species included in this study are closely related, thus providing further support to the hypothesis that this pathogen is non-native and invasive in eastern North America. Several conidia-producing isolates from bat hibernacula previously identified as members of Pseudeurotium are determined to belong to the genus Leuconeurospora, which is widespread, especially in colder regions. Teberdinia hygrophila is transferred to Pseudeurotium as Pseudeurotium hygrophilum, comb. nov., in accordance with the one name per fungus system of classification, and two additional combinations are made in Pseudogymnoascus including Pseudogymnoascus carnis and Pseudogymnoascus pannorum. Additional sampling from other regions of the world is needed to better understand the evolution and biogeography of this important and diverse group of fungi.     

Characterization of fungi transferred by dust storms in Kuwait and their plant pathogenicity

Dust storms carry large amounts of plant detritus and microorganisms that may cause diseases in humans, animals or plants. These storms are frequent in Kuwait throughout the year. This research was conducted to identify the fungal species carried by the dust storms in Kuwait, originating from the northwesterly direction, with emphasis on plant pathogens. Fungi were isolated from settled dust samples and identified using established microbiological and molecular approaches. Fungal isolates identified as Fusarium oxysporum from settled dust were examined for pathogenicity using a number of crop plants. In total, 17 genera of fungi were identified in the dust samples. These fungi included plant pathogens or facultative plant parasites that were transported in the dust storms as viable propagules. The most common dust-carried fungi belonged to the genera Fusarium, Alternaria, Ulocladium, Phoma, Aspergillus, Acremonium and Penicillium. The F. oxysporum isolates that had been characterized by partial 18S rRNA gene sequencing were pathogenic, causing root and stem rot in tomato, bean and cucumber, but not squash.     

Contamination of common spices in Saudi Arabia markets with potential mycotoxin-producing fungi

Fifteen spices obtained from common markets were examined for their mould profile. A total of 520 fungal isolates, representing 57 species, were recovered and identified from dried and ground spice samples on three different media using standard dilution plate method. The most heavily contaminated spice samples examined were observed in ginger in order of magnitude of 5325–6800 cfu/g. The most predominant fungal genera encountered were Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus. Relative occurrence values of taxa disclosed ranged between 80% for Aspergillusflavus, Aspergillusniger and Penicilliumarenicola, and 10% for some species. Samples obtained from sumac encountered very rare colony counts indicating its antifungal prosperities. The present magnitude of contamination and spectra of mycobiota approximate those reported for similar spice samples. Several potentially mycotoxigenic fungi were isolated from the majority of samples. The present study attracts the attention to potential risk for mycotoxins contamination may be caused as a result of using these spices, especially in great quantities. The study strongly recommends reduction in application of heavily contaminated spices like ginger in food processing and using some others like clove and sumac due to their antimicrobial properties.     

Non-systemic fungal endophytes of grasses

Many fungi behave as endophytes in grasses. Unlike the well known Epichloë/Neotyphodium species, most other endophytes are not capable of systemic colonization of plant organs, or seed transmission. The species diversity of the non-systemic endophytic mycobiota of grasses is large, dominated by ascomycetes. The relative abundance of species is very unequal, a few dominant taxa like Acremonium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Penicillium spp., occur in many grasses and locations. In contrast, many rare species are isolated only once in endophyte surveys. The possible ecological functions of endophytes are diverse, and often unknown. Latent pathogens represent a small fraction of endophytic mycobiotas, indicating that many non-pathogenic fungal taxa are able to enter plants overriding defence reactions. Some dominant species behave as latent saprotrophs, sporulating when the host tissue dies. Endofungal viruses and bacteria occur among endophytic species, but their effect in their hosts is largely unknown.     

Soil fungal diversity in three nature reserves of Jiuzhaigou County,Sichuan Province,China

Jiuzhaigou County is located at the southern transition zone of Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and is the site of three famous nature reserves, namely, the Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve (JZNR), Baihe Nature Reserve (BHNR) and Wujiao Nature Reserve (WJNR). The soil fungal diversity in this region has not yet been investigated. In this study, we collected 25 soil samples from these three nature reserves. Soil fungi were isolated using the soil dilution plate technique and Rose Bengal agar medium. The culturable soil fungal density based on analysis of the 25 samples ranged from 2.18 log to 4.38 log CFU g^?1 dry weight soil, with the fungal density being highest in samples from JZNR and lowest in those from BHNR. Based on morphological characters and the results of phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rDNA operon, we identified 38 genera (two genera could not be identified) belonging to Ascomycota, Zygomycota and Basidiomycota. The dominant genera were Penicillium, Humicola, Aspergillus and Trichoderma. The species richness index S, biodiversity index H′ and evenness index E of the 25 sampling sites were in the range 10–29, 1.96–3.05 and 0.74–0.95, respectively. The highest mean values of the S, H′ and E indices were in soil samples from BHNR, where the values of these indices were 20.00, 2.66 and 0.90, respectively. These results indicate that the diversity of culturable fungi in these three nature reserves was high. Furthermore, a total 14 Trichoderma isolates were tested for their antagonism activity against mycelium growth of three pathogens: Bipolaris maydis, Curvularia lunata, Rhizoctonia solani. The results showed that six Trichoderma isolates had good antagonistic effects on the three pathogenic fungi.     

Fungi associated with galleries of the emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an exotic forest pest that has killed millions of ash trees in the United States and Canada, resulting in an ecological disaster and billions of dollars in economic losses of urban landscape and forest trees. The beetle was first detected in Michigan in 2002 and has spread through much of the Eastern and Midwestern U.S., reaching Minnesota in 2009. Since then, it has spread across the state and poses a great risk to the more than 1 billion ash trees in Minnesota. The larval stage of EAB creates wounds on trees as they feed on the inner bark, causing disruption of water and sap flow that results in tree death. The fungal community associated with EAB larval galleries is poorly understood and the role these fungi may play in tree death is not known. This study describes fungi isolated from EAB larval galleries sampled throughout the main geographic areas of Minnesota where ash is affected by EAB. Fungal cultures were identified by extracting genomic DNA and sequencing the ITS region of the rDNA. Results from 1126 isolates reveal a diverse assemblage of fungi and three functional guilds comprised of canker pathogens, wood decay, and entomopathogenic fungi. The most common canker-associated genera were Cytospora followed by Phaeoacremonium, Paraconiothyrium, Coniothyrium, Nectria, Diplodia, and Botryosphaeria. Fungi in the Basidiomycota were nearly all wood decay causing fungi and many were species of pioneer colonizing genera including Sistotrema, Irpex, Peniophora, Phlebia and Ganoderma. Some of these fungi seriously affect urban trees, having the potential to cause rapid wood decay resulting in hazardous tree situations. Several entomopathogenic genera with the potential for biological control of EAB were also isolated from galleries. Purpureocillium was the most commonly isolated genus, followed by Beauveria, Clonostachys, Lecanicillium, Akanthomyces, Cordyceps, Microcera, Tolypocladium, and Pochonia. The results identify important fungal functional guilds that are occupying a new niche in ash trees resulting from EAB and include fungi that may accelerate decline in tree health, increase hazard tree situations, or may provide options for biological control of this destructive invasive insect.     

Isolation and identification of gastrointestinal microbiota from the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis brachyotis

Studies on the microbial ecology of gut microbiota in bats are limited and such information is necessary in determining the ecological significance of these hosts. Short-nosed fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis brachyotis) are good candidates for microbiota studies given their close association with humans in urban areas. Thus, this study explores the gut microbiota of this species from Peninsular Malaysia by means of biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis. The estimation of viable bacteria present in the stomach and intestine of C. b. brachyotis ranged from 3.06 × 10¹⁰ to 1.36 × 10¹⁵ CFU/ml for stomach fluid and 1.92 × 10¹⁰ to 6.10 × 10¹⁵ CFU/ml for intestinal fluid. A total of 34 isolates from the stomach and intestine of seven C. b. brachyotis were retrieved. A total of 16 species of bacteria from eight genera (Bacillus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Serratia) were identified, Enterobacteriaceae being the most prevalent, contributing 12 out of 16 species isolated. Most isolates from the Family Enterobacteriaceae have been reported as pathogens to humans and wildlife. With the possibility of human wildlife transmission, the findings of this study focus on the importance of bats as reservoirs of potential bacterial pathogens.