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Related Experiment Videos

Frogs host faecal bacteria typically associated with humans.

Karen Gibb1, Xavier Schobben2, Keith Christian1

  • 1a Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia.

Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|April 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Tree frogs can carry human fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) on their skin and in their feces, posing potential public health risks. Certain bacterial markers, like Enterococcus faecium, were found in frogs exposed to sewage-contaminated water.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Amphibian ecology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Amphibians, such as tree frogs, frequently interact with human environments, including drinking water sources.
  • The potential for amphibians to harbor and transmit human-associated bacteria is not well understood.
  • Faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are commonly used to assess water contamination, but their presence in non-mammalian hosts requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of human-associated fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) in green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea).
  • To determine if frogs can act as reservoirs or vectors for FIB, potentially impacting human health.
  • To assess the specificity of common FIB markers in amphibian hosts.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of fecal and skin wash samples from green tree frogs across diverse environments (natural, suburban, sewage-impacted).
Keywords:
animalsanimauxdrinking watereau potableeaux uséesqualité de l’eausewagewater quality

Related Experiment Videos

  • Utilized molecular techniques to detect specific FIB markers, including Enterococcus faecium and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron.
  • Analysis of bacterial presence in relation to environmental contamination levels.

    • Main Results:

    • Enterococci colonies were detected in both fecal and skin wash samples from frogs.
    • Specific FIB markers, Enterococcus faecium and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, were identified in frog feces.
    • Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was found in frogs from both natural and urban sites, indicating broader presence.
    • Enterococcus faecium was exclusively associated with frogs from the sewage-impacted site.

    Conclusions:

    • The study demonstrates that common FIB markers are not exclusively human- or mammalian-specific.
    • Green tree frogs can harbor FIB, particularly in environments with sewage contamination.
    • Amphibian presence in water sources warrants consideration for public health risk assessments related to water quality.