Prevalence of enterobacteria in bothrops jararaca in São Paulo State: Microbiological survey and antimicrobial resistance standards

Abstract

There are few microbiological surveys on reptiles in Brazil. The study described here focuses on a species of snake of great medical interest and serves as basis for other studies and comparisons. The samples were collected directly from the colon of healthy adult Jararacas. The material was seeded in MacConkey Agar (Difco®) and XLT4 Agar (Difco®). The isolates were identified through the API 20E Identification System (BioMériux®). The isolates of Salmonella sp. were submitted to serotyping. Finally, the colonies were submitted to the antimicrobial sensitivity test. Several genera of the Enterobacteriaceae family were obtained (Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Kluyvera, Morganella, Proteus, Providencia and Salmonella), as well as a genus of morphologically similar Gram-negative bacteria (Aeromonas). Salmonella, Citrobacter and Escherichia were the most frequent isolates. Fourteen (14) serotypes of Salmonella were identified; 13 are of the subspecies IIIb and 1 of the subspecies IV. Aeromonas, Enterobacter, Escherichia and Klebsiella presented a higher resistance rate to antibiotics. Kluyvera and Salmonella were the genera most sensitive to the tested drugs. Aminoglycosides presented good antimicrobial action, but chloramphenicol was the only drug to which no isolate presented resistance.