Antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci isolated from the faeces of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the staphylococcal flora associated with wild turkey populations.


RESULTS
Faecal samples obtained from 26 wild turkeys over a 16-month period were inoculated onto mannitol salt agar plates to select for staphylococci. Fifty-seven randomly chosen isolates were identified as Staphylococcus lentus and their susceptibility determined against clindamycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, oxacillin, penicillin G, rifampin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin. Resistance was minimal as only 3 isolates showed resistance to clindamycin, 3 isolates were resistant to oxacillin, 3 isolates were resistant to penicillin G, and 1 isolate was resistant to erythromycin. Multiple antibiotic resistance was also minimal.


CONCLUSIONS
S. lentus is the predominant staphylococcal species associated with wild turkey faeces and antibiotic resistance in these organisms is not problematic.


CONCLUSIONS
S. lentus has been shown as a potential causative agent of inflammatory reactions in the respiratory tract. Due to increased numbers of wild turkeys and more frequent human exposure, surveys to monitor microbial populations are warranted.
DeBoer
L R
LR
Department of Biological Sciences, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial, Emporia, KS 66801, USA.
Slaughter
D M
DM
Applegate
R D
RD
Sobieski
R J
RJ
Crupper
S S
SS
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014422:Turkeys / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents