Identification of bifidobacteria isolated from Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

0425225 - ÚŽFG 2014 RIV IN eng J - Journal Article
Bunešová, V. - Vlková, E. - Rada, V. - Killer, Jiří - Kmeť, V.
Identification of bifidobacteria isolated from Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).
Journal of Biosciences. Roč. 38, č. 2 (2013), s. 239-243. ISSN 0250-5991. E-ISSN 0973-7138
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA523/08/1091
Institutional support: RVO:67985904
Keywords : 16S rRNA genes sequencing * bifidobacteria * Elephas maximus
Subject RIV: EE - Microbiology, Virology
Impact factor: 1.939, year: 2013

Bifidobacteria are considered as one of the key genera in intestinal tracts of animals, and their species composition vary depending on the host. The aim of this study was to identify faecal bifidobacteria from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), housed in Zoological gardens (Ostrava, Czech Republic). Using culturing, bifidobacteria were found in counts 7.60 +/- 0.56 log CFU/g. Twenty-six pure strains were isolated from faeces of Asian elephant. The isolates were clustered into two groups according to fingerprinting profiles and fermentation characteristic. Bacteria were identified by a combination of MALDI-TOF MS, PCR methods and sequencing as B. boum (12 isolates) and B. adolescentis (14 isolates). Elephant strains showed different fingerprinting profiles than type and collection strains. Since these two species are frequently isolated from gastrointestinal tract of herbivores, they seem to be typical of animals fed plant diets.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0231187