Abstract
Freshwater cetaceans play a significant role as sentinel animals, providing important data on animal species and aquatic ecosystem health. They also may serve as potential reservoirs of emerging pathogens and host virulence genes in their microbiota. In this study, we evaluated virulence factors produced by Gram-negative bacteria recovered from individuals belonging to two populations of free-ranging Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis). A total of 132 isolates recovered from the oral cavity, blowhole, genital opening and rectum of 21 river dolphins, 13 from Negro River and 8 from Tapajós River, Brazil, were evaluated for the production of virulence factors, such as biofilms and exoproducts (proteases, hemolysins and siderophores), in planktonic and biofilm forms. In planktonic form, 81.1% (107/132) of the tested bacteria of free-ranging Amazon river dolphins were able to produce virulence factors, with 44/132 (33.4%), 65/132 (49,2%) and 54/132 (40,9%) positive for protease, hemolysin and siderophore production, respectively. Overall, 57/132 (43.2%) of the isolates produced biofilms and, under this form of growth, 66/132 (50%), 88/132 (66.7%) and 80/132 (60.6%) of the isolates were positive for protease, hemolysin and siderophore production. In general, the isolates showed a higher release of exoproducts in biofilm than in planktonic form (P < 0.001). The present findings show that Amazon river dolphins harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria in their microbiota, highlighting the importance of monitoring the micro-organisms from wild animals, as they may emerge as pathogens for humans and other animals.
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The authors thank the Cearense Foundation of Support for Scientific and Technological Development (FUNCAP, Brazil, process number DEP-0164–00100.01.00/19).
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DCB, MR, GG, JS and RC contributed to the study conception and design. Capturing and collection of biological specimens from animals were performed by VLC, MM, MOC, VMFS, RSA, WG, NASC and JM. Experimental assays were performed by ED, CJO, ASF, RMP, RGLN and DCB. WPN performed the statistical analyses. The first draft of the manuscript was written by EMD and revised by DCB. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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The permit of this study was granted by the Authorization and Information System in Biodiversity of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), license numbers 35950–1 and 60171–1, by the Amazon State Center of Conservation Units, authorization number 08/2015-CEUC/SDS, and by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals of the Federal University of Ceará, under the process number 12639479–2. The permits for the Negro River study were granted to Vera Maria Ferreira da Silva by ICMBio/SISBio 13157–1 to 13157–4 and Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals of INPA (CEUA-INPA 025/2014).
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Rocha, M.F.G., Diógenes, E.M., Carvalho, V.L. et al. Virulence factors of Gram-negative bacteria from free-ranging Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis). Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 116, 447–462 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-023-01812-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-023-01812-5