Download to read article of Rohan N. Shringarpure

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 111(1), Jan-Apr 2014
29-35
AEROBIC CULTURABLE BACTERIAL MICROFLORA IN
RESIDENT GYPS VULTURE SPECIES OF INDIA
R ohan N. S hringarpure 1,4, *, M andar D. K ulkarni 1,5 , C hhaya S awant 2,7 , A shok B hagwat 2,8 ,
Toby H. Galligan3 and Vibhu Prakash1,6
Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India.
Shri Chhota Bhai Patel Research Centre, Vile Parle, Mumbai 400 056, Maharashtra, India.
3
RSPB Centre of Conservation Science, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, UK. Email: [email protected]
4
Email: [email protected]
5
Email: [email protected]
6
Email: [email protected]
7
Email: [email protected]
8
Email: [email protected]
*Corresponding author
doi: 10.17087/bnhs/2014/v111i1/56524
1
2
Microflora of three Critically Endangered, resident Gyps species of Indian vultures was studied at the Vulture
Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore, Panchkula district, Haryana. Cloacal and choanal swabs from 32 adult Gyps
vultures (10 White-rumped Gyps bengalensis, 11 Long-billed G. indicus and 11 Slender-billed G. tenuirostris) held
in captivity at the centre were collected in October 2011 and analyzed to determine the presence of aerobic culturable
bacteria. A total of 23 bacterial species were isolated from the 64 cloacal and choanal samples collected and analyzed.
The commonly encountered bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract were Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and
Enterococcus avium, while Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. saprophyticus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were prevalent
in the respiratory tract. The rest of the bacterial species were of low prevalence, and no specific pattern of colonization
was seen. In spite of their exposure to a variety of microorganisms due to the scavenging nature of the vultures, only
a few organisms were observed to colonize successfully and form the normal flora. The bacterial species richness and
diversity among the three vulture species was similar.
Key words: Gastrointestinal, respiratory, aerobic culturable bacteria, Gyps vultures, conservation, Critically
Endangered
INTRODUCTION
In animals, the microflora of an individual plays a vital
role in the normal physiological functions. The communities
of microorganisms established in the gut of an individual
have been shown to be essential for its metabolic activities
(Apajalahti 2005). The microflora of humans has been
extensively studied, and the individual’s gut microflora
composition has been linked to the diet (Benno et al. 1989;
Muegge et al. 2011). It has also been shown that the patterns
of gut microflora deviate considerably from normal in certain
disease conditions, such as ulcerative colitis (Hartley et al.
1992).
As obligate scavengers, vultures provide important
ecosystem services by feeding on dead animals, thus
limiting the multiplication and spread of pathogens present
in carcasses, thereby limiting disease in livestock and
humans. The population of three resident Gyps species of
India – White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Long-billed
Vulture G. indicus, and Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris
– has declined by over 99% in the past two decades due to
diclofenac contamination of domesticated animal carcasses
(Green et al. 2004; Oaks et al. 2004; Prakash et al. 2012).
To prevent the possible extinction of these species, a
conservation breeding programme was initiated in India
by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government
of India, in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History
Society and Haryana Forest Department. The first Vulture
Conservation Breeding Centre was established at Pinjore,
Haryana. Individuals of the three species were caught from
the wild to establish a founder population. These species
were rarely kept in captivity earlier, and hence information
on various aspects of their health and disease is lacking.
Nothing is known about the prevalence of microflora
in these three Critically Endangered species of Indian Gyps
vultures. The microflora of some vulture species has been
studied in other parts of the world: Turkey Vulture Cathartes
aura in North America (Winsor et al. 1981); American Black
Vulture Coragyps atratus in South America (Rodrigues et
al. 2003); Eurasian Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus (Kocijan
et al. 2009); and Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus
(Blanco et al. 2007) in Europe. The microflora of other raptor
species has also been studied (Bangert et al. 1988; Blanco
et al. 2006). These studies reported that species richness