Study on Lactose Fermenting Enterobacteriaceae in Captive Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans) from different Captive Facilities in South India, with a Profile of Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Pathogenic Escherichia coli

The present study reported the prevalence of lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae in Star Tortoises (Geochelone elegans) from three different captive facilities in South India viz., Chennai Snake Park Trust (CSPT), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (SCZG), Mysuru, Karnataka. A total of forty cloacal swabs and forty fresh faecal samples were collected separately from same captive Star Tortoises of different captive facilities and three water samples each from three different captive facilities. The cloacal swabs were used for cultural isolation of lactose fermenting Enterobacteriaceae and fresh faecal samples were used for direct DNA extraction using QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit. The fimC (Type I fimbriae) gene was used for identification of Pathogenic Escherichia coli through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). E. coli (n=11) (27.5%) was the intermittently encountered bacteria, followed by Klebsiella spp. (n=8) (20.00%) and Enterobacter spp. (n=8) (20.00%) isolated from cloacal swabs through culture method. The Enterobacter spp. was more prevalent in water samples, followed by Klebsiella spp. while E. coli was absent in water samples. A total of 21 samples were positive for E. coli, through DNA isolated from fresh faecal samples using QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit. This showed that direct DNA isolation was more convenient than traditional culture method of bacterial confirmation. The E. coli isolates were tested for antimicrobial sensitivity by using Disc Diffusion Method. Antimicrobial resistance pattern as follows, resistance was recorded against cefotaxime (54.54%), azithromycin (45.45%), gentamicin, tetracycline and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (36.36%). No isolate was found resistant against enrofloxacin. The E. coli isolates also showed multiple drug resistance to different group of drugs.