Prevalence, Molecular Diagnosis and Management of Klebsiella species in Captive Sloth Bears (Melursus ursinus)

Genus Klebsiella from faeces of sloth bears was screened by using culture morphology, Gram's staining, biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed that out of 60 samples collected, 22 samples (36.67%) were cultured on Klebsiella Selective Agar Base with Klebsiella Selective Supplement and Gram's stain revealed rod-shaped Gram-negative organism with purple-magenta colony-like colonies. The biochemical tests of cultured samples revealed negative to indole production and methyl red test, positive to Voges-Proskauer test, positive to Simmon citrate utilization test, negative to H₂S production and that produced acid over acid reaction in TSI agar and positive to urea production in cultured samples. All Klebsiella species isolates were sensitive to azithromycin followed by enrofloxacin and resistant to clindamycin and methicillin. The gyrA gene was amplified by PCR for the genus Klebsiella and found to be positive of 36.67%. This study may provide information for developing strategies in the future in the control of Klebsiella species infections in sloth bears.