Oral bacterial microbiome of the bolson tortoise Gopherus flavomarginatus at the Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, Mexico

Abstract

The community of oral bacteria of the Bolson tortoise, Gopherus flavomarginatus, was determined at the Reserva de la Biosfera Mapimí, México by massive sequencing. During 2015, samples of 5 males and 5 females apparently healthy were collected; DNA was extracted, V3-V4 16S rRNA regions were amplified, sequencing was carried out with Illumina, and EzBioCloud was used as the reference taxonomic base. No significant difference was observed in the oral microbiota between sexes. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla, as well as the class Gammaproteobacteria, and the order Pasteurellales. Pasteurellaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Micrococcaceae were the most abundant families. Among taxa potentially pathogenic for tortoises, we documented molecularly the presence of Mycoplasma, and Pasteurella testudinis in G. flavomarginatus; both are considered as possible participants in causing upper respiratory disease in other Gopherus species. Genus Bergeyella is reported for the first time in the oral cavity of a reptile; this zoonotic bacteria had only been reported as part of the oral microbiome of canines and felines. This information provides an oral bacterial diversity baseline for this species that will contribute to and improve current conservation and management plans.