title: Isolation and identification of gastrointestinal microbiota from the short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis brachyotis.
abstract: Studies on the microbial ecology of gut microbiota in bats are limited and such information is necessary in determining the ecological significance of these hosts. Short-nosed fruit bats (Cynopterus brachyotis brachyotis) are good candidates for microbiota studies given their close association with humans in urban areas. Thus, this study explores the gut microbiota of this species from Peninsular Malaysia by means of biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis. The estimation of viable bacteria present in the stomach and intestine of C. b. brachyotis ranged from 3.06×10(10) to 1.36×10(15)CFU/ml for stomach fluid and 1.92×10(10) to 6.10×10(15)CFU/ml for intestinal fluid. A total of 34 isolates from the stomach and intestine of seven C. b. brachyotis were retrieved. A total of 16 species of bacteria from eight genera (Bacillus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Serratia) were identified, Enterobacteriaceae being the most prevalent, contributing 12 out of 16 species isolated. Most isolates from the Family Enterobacteriaceae have been reported as pathogens to humans and wildlife. With the possibility of human wildlife transmission, the findings of this study focus on the importance of bats as reservoirs of potential bacterial pathogens.
authors.affiliation: UCSI University, No. 1 Jalan Menara Gading, UCSI Heights, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. dianesd461@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Diane Sunira
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Yau Kit
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Ee Ley
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: Yogis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arumugam
authors.forename: Wey Lim
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jayaraj Vijaya
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kumaran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D064307:Microbiota; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA gene sequences; Cynopterus brachyotis; Gut microbiota; Pathogen