Oral Microbiota of the Snake Bothrops lanceolatus in Martinique

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Herpetology

Background:

• Bothrops lanceolatus snakebites in Martinique, though infrequent, can cause severe complications like thrombosis and infections.
• Infections are suspected to originate from bacteria within the snake's oral cavity.
• Understanding the oral microbiota of B. lanceolatus is crucial for effective infection management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and identify bacteria from the oral cavity of Bothrops lanceolatus.
• To determine the susceptibility of these bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics.
• To inform optimal antibiotic treatment strategies for B. lanceolatus envenomation.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial samples were collected from the oral cavities of 26 B. lanceolatus specimens in Martinique.
• Bacteria were isolated, identified using standard microbiological techniques.
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed, focusing on beta-lactam agents like amoxicillin/clavulanate and third-generation cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftazidime).

Main Results:

• The oral microbiota of B. lanceolatus was polymicrobial, comprising fifteen different bacterial taxa.
• Aeromonas hydrophyla was the most frequent isolate (50%), followed by Morganella morganii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus spp., and Enterococcus spp.
• A significant proportion (66.7%) of isolates showed resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate, while most were susceptible to cefotaxime (73.3%) and ceftazidime (80.0%).

Conclusions:

• The oral cavity of Bothrops lanceolatus harbors a diverse bacterial community.
• Third-generation cephalosporins are more effective against these bacteria than amoxicillin/clavulanate.
• First-line antibiotic therapy for B. lanceolatus bite-associated infections should prioritize third-generation cephalosporins over amoxicillin/clavulanate.