title: Isolation, characterization, and antibiotic resistance of Vibrio spp. in sea turtles from Northwestern Mexico.
abstract: The aerobic oral and cloacal bacterial microbiota and their antimicrobial resistance were characterized for 64 apparently healthy sea turtles captured at their foraging grounds in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon (OLL), Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico (Pacific Ocean) and the lagoon system of Navachiste (LSN) and Marine Area of Influence (MAI), Guasave, Sinaloa (Gulf of California). A total of 34 black turtles (Chelonia mydas agassizii) were sampled in OLL and eight black turtles and 22 olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) were sampled in LSN and MAI, respectively from January to December 2012. We isolated 13 different species of Gram-negative bacteria. The most frequently isolated bacteria were Vibrio alginolyticus in 39/64 (60%), V. parahaemolyticus in 17/64 (26%), and V. cholerae in 6/64 (9%). However, V. cholerae was isolated only from turtles captured from the Gulf of California (MAI). Among V. parahaemolyticus strains, six O serogroups and eight serovars were identified from which 5/17 (29.4%) belonged to the pathogenic strains (tdh (+) gene) and 2/17 (11.7%) had the pandemic clone (tdh (+) and toxRS/new (+)). Among V. cholerae strains, all were identified as non-O1/non-O139, and in 4/6 (66%) the accessory cholera enterotoxin gene (ace) was identified but without virulence gene zot, ctxA, and ctxB. Of the isolated V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, and V. alginolyticus strains, 94.1, 33.4, and 100% demonstrated resistance to at least one commonly prescribed antibiotic (primarily to ampicillin), respectively. In conclusion, the presence of several potential (toxigenic) human pathogens in sea turtles may represent transmission of environmental microbes and a high-risk of food-borne disease. Therefore, based on the fact that it is illegal and unhealthy, we discourage the consumption of sea turtle meat or eggs in northwestern Mexico.
authors.affiliation: Programa Regional Para el Doctorado en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Biológicas, Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa Culiacán, México ; Departamento de medio ambiente y desarrollo comunitario, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional - Sinaloa Guasave, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zavala-Norzagaray
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University Fairfax, VA, USA.
authors.forename: A Alonso
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aguirre
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa Culiacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Velazquez-Roman
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa Culiacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flores-Villaseñor
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa Culiacán, Mexico ; Pediatric Hospital of Sinaloa Culiacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nidia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: León-Sicairos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de medio ambiente y desarrollo comunitario, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional - Sinaloa Guasave, Mexico.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ley-Quiñonez
authors.affiliation: Programa Regional Para el Doctorado en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Biológicas, Universidad Autonoma de Sinaloa Culiacán, México.
authors.forename: Lucio De Jesús
authors.initials: Lde J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, School of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa Culiacán, Mexico ; The Sinaloa State Public Health Laboratory, Secretariat of Health Culiacán, Mexico.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canizalez-Roman
keywords: Chelonia mydas agassizii; Lepidochelys olivacea; Mexico; Vibrio spp.; antibiotic resistance; bacterial diversity; sea turtles