Enterococcus species diversity in fecal samples of wild marine species by real-time PCR

• Main Authors: Weber Medeiros, Aline, Blaese Amorim, Derek, Tavares, Mauricio, de Moura, Tiane, Franco, Ana Claudia, d’Azevedo, Pedro Alves, Frazzon, Jeverson, Frazzon, Ana Paula Guedes
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: NRC Research Press (a division of Canadian Science Publishing) 2016
• Subjects: Calidris canutus; Red Knot
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/75218; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjm-2016-0427

Analyses using culture-independent molecular techniques have improved our understanding of microbial composition. The aim of this work was to identify and quantify enterococci in fecal samples of wild marine species using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Seven Enterococcus species were examined in fecal DNA of South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis), Subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis), green turtles (Chelonia mydas), Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), snowy-crowned Tern (Sterna trudeaui), white-backed Stilt (Himantopus melanurus), white-chinned Petrels (Procellaria aequinoctialis), red knot (Calidris canutus), black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophris). All Enterococcus species evaluated were detected in all fecal samples of wild marine species, with a concentration ranged between 106 to 1012 copies/ng of total DNA. Differences in the enterococci distribution were observed. Enterococcus faecalis and E. mundtii were most abundant in marine mammals. Enterococcus faecalis was frequent in green turtles, Magellanic penguins, snowy-crowned Tern, red knot, black-browed and albatross. Enterococcus hirae and E. gallinarum showed elevated occurrence in white-backed Stilt, and E. faecium in white-chinned Petrel. This study showed highest diversity of enterococci in feces of wild marine species than currently available data, and ensure that culture-independent analysis help us to enhance our understanding about enterococci in gastrointestinal tracts of wild marine species. The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author.