Isolation of enteric pathogens from bats in Trinidad

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Wildlife Health

Background:

• Bats are globally distributed mammals and known reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens.
• Understanding bat-borne diseases is crucial for public health and wildlife management.
• Trinidad and Tobago's diverse bat population presents a unique study system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter spp. in bats from Trinidad and Tobago.
• To characterize Salmonella serotypes and E. coli strains, including O157 and antimicrobial resistance profiles.

Main Methods:

• Gastrointestinal tracts from 377 bats (12 species) across 27 locations were analyzed bacteriologically.
• Salmonella isolates were serotyped, and E. coli isolates were screened for O157 and antimicrobial sensitivity.
• Phenotypic characteristics of E. coli isolates were also determined.

Main Results:

• Salmonella spp. were detected in 1.1% of bats, and E. coli in 13.0%.
• No Campylobacter spp. or E. coli O157 strains were found.
• Salmonella serotypes Rubislaw, Molade, and Caracas were identified. 82% of E. coli isolates showed antimicrobial resistance, notably to erythromycin (61%) and streptomycin (27%).

Conclusions:

• Bats in Trinidad and Tobago harbor Salmonella and E. coli, posing potential zoonotic risks.
• High antimicrobial resistance in E. coli warrants further investigation and monitoring.
• The absence of Campylobacter and E. coli O157 suggests specific transmission dynamics or host-pathogen interactions.