IDENTIFICATION OF INTESTINAL BACTERIAL FLORA ISOLATED FROM JACKALS IN WESTERN ROMANIA

Abstract

The golden jackal (Canis aureus), a mesocarnivore, is currently spreading from eastern to western Europe. In Europe, the golden jackal is considered an invasive species, as in recent years it has managed to populate extensive territories in Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Serbia and Hungary. Bulgaria is considered the country with the largest population of jackals in Europe. In Romania it is frequently found from the plains of Dobrogea to Banat. The present work aimed to study and observe the newly developed antibiotic resistance profiles of intestinal bacterial flora isolated from these wild species and to compare our data with those existing in the literature. Duodenum samples from golden jackals were collected for primary bacteriological examinations. This study used common identification and isolation methods and modern identification techniques, such as proteomics and MALDI-TOF MS technique, for highly accurate information on the bacterial flora of the digestive system. Antibiograms were performed using the disc-diffusimetric method using antibiotics and chemotherapeutics belonging to several groups. Several bacterial species were isolated from the jackals studied: Serratia liquefaciens, Staphylococcus hominis and Aeromonas salmonicida. In Aeromonas salmonicida strains, antibiograms showed significant percentages of intermediate strains to most of the antimicrobials used and overall resistance to levofloxacin. The same behaviour was recorded for colistin and strains belonging to the Seratia and Streptococcus genera. Interestingly, some bacterial strains isolated showed resistance to levofloxacin, a third- generation fluoroquinolone, as this antimicrobial is banned for veterinary use in EU countries. The results are a wake-up call, as antibiotic resistance has been shown to be present in wild animal populations in Romania, with risk to public health.