Pathogenic Potential of Opportunistic Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from the Cloacal Microbiota of Free-Living Reptile Hosts Originating from Bulgaria
Irina Lazarkevich,
Stephan Engibarov,
Simona Mitova,
Steliyana Popova,
Emiliya Vacheva,
Nikola Stanchev,
Rumyana Eneva,
Yana Gocheva,
Iva Lalovska,
Tsvetelina Paunova-Krasteva,
Yana Ilieva,
Hristo Najdenski
Affiliations
Irina Lazarkevich
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Stephan Engibarov
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Simona Mitova
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Steliyana Popova
Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Emiliya Vacheva
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Nikola Stanchev
Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Rumyana Eneva
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Yana Gocheva
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Iva Lalovska
Tortoise Rescue, Rehabilitation and Breeding Center, Gea Chelonia Foundation, 10 Shipka Street, Banya Village, 8239 Burgas, Bulgaria
Tsvetelina Paunova-Krasteva
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Yana Ilieva
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Hristo Najdenski
The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 26 Georgi Bonchev Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Reptiles are known to be asymptomatic carriers of various zoonotic pathogens. A number of Gram-negative opportunistic commensals are causative agents of bacterial infections in immunocompromised or stressed hosts and are disseminated by reptiles, whose epidemiological role should not be neglected. Since most studies have focused on exotic species, in captivity or as pet animals, the role of wild populations as a potential source of pathogens still remains understudied. In the present study, we isolated a variety of Gram-negative bacteria from the cloacal microbiota of free-living lizard and tortoise hosts (Reptilia: Sauria and Testudines) from the Bulgarian herpetofauna. We evaluated their pathogenic potential according to their antibiotic susceptibility patterns, biofilm-forming capacity, and extracellular production of some enzymes considered to play roles as virulence factors. To our knowledge, the phenotypic manifestation of virulence factors/enzymatic activity and biofilm formation in wild reptile microbiota has not yet been widely investigated. All isolates were found to be capable of forming biofilms to some extent and 29.6% of them could be categorized as strong producers. Two strains proved to be excellent producers. The majority of the isolated strains showed extracellular production of at least one exoenzyme. The most pronounced pathogenicity could be attributed to the newly isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain due to its multiresistance, excellent biofilm formation, and expression of exoenzymes.