y2019m11b26
20191126143100
assa
nadine@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
11272019
115
11/12
Antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria isolated from the oral cavities of live white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in South African waters
Enrico
Gennari
Oceans Research, Mossel Bay, South Africa
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, South Africa
Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
Alison A.
Kock
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, South Africa
Cape Research Centre, South African National Parks, Cape Town, South Africa
Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Malcolm J.
Smale
Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Alison
Towner
Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
Nasreen
Khan
Island Conservation Society, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
Linda
Bester
Biomedical Resource Unit, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Ryan
Johnson
Blue Wilderness Research Unit, Scottburgh, South Africa
Chris
Fischer
OCEARCH, Park City, Utah, USA
Michael
Meÿer
Department of Environmental Affairs, Cape Town, South Africa
Peter
Morse
Oceans Research, Mossel Bay, South Africa
The white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is responsible for 49% of shark-related injuries in South Africa, yet no information currently exists on the composition or antibiotic resistance of bacteria hosted by these apex predators in South African waters. This study aimed to address this gap by sampling the bacteria present in the oral cavities of 28 live C. carcharias along South Africa’s southern coastline. The antibiotic resistance of the range of microbiota was also assessed using antibiotic disc diffusion tests. A total of 51 strains from at least 20 species of bacteria were isolated from the oral cavities of C. carcharias. Of these strains, the most common bacteria present were Serratia spp., Proteus vulgaris and Vibrio alginolyticus. The overall antibiotic resistance was relatively higher in this study than that reported for bacterial microbiota sampled from other shark species. Results indicate that the combination therapy of imipenem (carbapenem antibiotic) and vancomycin (glycopeptide antibiotic) might be the most parsimonious option to effectively treat infections resulting from white shark bites, particularly in South Africa. It is hoped that, in addition to assisting medical professionals to treat shark bite victims, these findings enhance the understanding of the microbial communities present in large coastal predators and their surrounding environments.
11272019
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2019-01-23
2019-08-20
2019-11-27
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2019/5972
20191126143100
https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507
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https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/5972/9507