Identification of the bacterial flora in Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii ) in Barra Galindo, Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

Kemps Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) is considered as critically endangered by Mexican laws and by several international organizations. One of the main dangers is the indiscriminate capture and destruction of nests by humans, and a second source of mortality are viral, as well as bacterial or fungal infections. This study took place in the conservation area Campamento tortuguero Ejido Barra Galindo, Tuxpan, Veracruz. Samples were obtained from nesting females, hatchlings, and nests. In total 14 bacterial species were identified, 10Gram negative and four Gram positive. The species identified were: Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus sp., Citrobacter sp., Edwardsiella sp., Enterobacter sp., Escherichia coli, Flavobacterium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Proteussp., Pseudomonas sp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus aureus and Vibrio alginolyticus. The four more frequent were: Edwardsiella sp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio alginolyticus. This type of studies may allow an understanding of the role played by microorganisms in infectious diseases of marine turtles and how they may affect the survival of natural populations of these animals under natural conditions.