First assessment of microbial diversity in faecal microflora of Eurasian otter (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lutra lutra</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758) in Portugal |
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Authors: | M Oliveira T Sales-Luís A Duarte S F Nunes C Carneiro T Tenreiro R Tenreiro M Santos-Reis L Tavares C L Vilela |
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Institution: | (1) CIISA/Laboratório de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal;(2) Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;(3) Present address: CIDC, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK;(4) Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Genética e Biologia Molecular and Instituto de Ciência Aplicada e Tecnologia, Edifício ICAT, Campus da FCUL, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal |
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Abstract: | The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758), a predator from the Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae, evolved the ability to swim and forage in water,
being an important element of biodiversity. Otters are widely spread through Portugal, and scats have been extensively used
in ecology studies; however, valid information on their microbiota is scarce. This work represents a first approach to characterise
the otter faecal microflora in samples collected in river stretches of the Sado river basin (Portugal) during winter 2006.
Eight sampling stretches of 8 km were selected, and from each, six to eight sampling sites were visited. A total of 31 scats
were analysed. The microflora studied included aerobic bacteria, spore-forming anaerobic bacteria and viruses (coronavirus,
parvovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus). Bacterial isolates were identified based on morphology and metabolic pathways,
and virus detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The results revealed the high degree of bacterial diversity
in the faecal microflora of L. lutra. A total of 88 Gram-negative (23 genera) and 44 Gram-positive isolates (ten genera) were identified. The identification of
four isolates was inconclusive, and their identification was performed by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequencing, which
confirms the need for biochemical testing optimisation regarding animal isolates. None of the scats was positive for virus
detection. Identification of otter faecal microflora and of potential pathogens is an important first step towards understanding
and monitoring their importance in otter population health. |
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Keywords: | Bacteria Identification Otter Virus |
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