BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 June 2015 OCCURRENCE OF PASTEURELLACEAE BACTERIA IN THE ORAL CAVITY OF THE TASMANIAN DEVIL (SARCOPHILUS HARRISII)
Lena Brix, Mie Johanne Hansen, Androo Kelly, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Anders Miki Bojesen
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The occurrence of bacteria belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae in the oral cavity of captive Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) was investigated using phenotypic and subsequent genotypic characterization and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 62 bacterial isolates obtained from Tasmanian devils, tentatively classified with the family Pasteurellaceae, were further characterized by phylogenetic analysis of rpoB gene sequence similarity, which showed that the isolates investigated formed five distinct groups. A total of 15 strains formed a novel genus-like group within Pasteurellaceae. Thirty-six strains grouped with the type strain of Frederiksenia canicola. Five strains clustered with the type strain of Pasteurella multocida. Interestingly, four of the P. multocida–like strains were β-hemolytic when incubated on blood agar, which is atypical for this genus. Five strains grouped with a 100% rpoB similarity with Pasteurella dagmatis. Finally, a single strain showed 97.1% resemblance to Haemophilus haemoglobinophilus. The results demonstrate that Tasmanian devils are hosting a variety of bacterial taxa affiliated with the family of Pasteurellaceae as part of their oral microflora.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Lena Brix, Mie Johanne Hansen, Androo Kelly, Mads Frost Bertelsen, and Anders Miki Bojesen "OCCURRENCE OF PASTEURELLACEAE BACTERIA IN THE ORAL CAVITY OF THE TASMANIAN DEVIL (SARCOPHILUS HARRISII)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 46(2), 241-245, (1 June 2015). https://doi.org/10.1638/2014-0111R1.1
Received: 31 May 2014; Published: 1 June 2015
KEYWORDS
Frederiksenia
marsupials
Pasteurella
Pasteurellaceae
Sarcophilus harrisii
Tasmanian devil
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top