Identifying Mycobacterium sp. in a Morrocoy turtle (Geochelone Carbonaria) population kept in captivity and in their environment in a zoo near Bogotá

Abstract

In a zoo near Bogotá there was high bird mortality due to avian tuberculosis, in a cage inhabited by 2 different species: reptiles (Morrocoy turtles) and birds. The study was thus aimed at establishing the presence of Mycobacterium sp by means of molecular identification (PCR-PRA) in a population of 19 Morrocoy turtles kept in captivity in the above mentioned zoo. All the turtles were therefore tuberculinised, proving negative; faecal material and environmental samples (water and soil) were collected and cultivated in OK/MSTA, LJ and OK medium respectively. Bacilloscopy was carried out on each sample. Only 4 of the faecal material samples were positive by bacilloscope; out of nine environmental samples (7 soil samples and 2 water samples), 5 were positive by bacilloscope, (4 soil samples and 1 water sample). Regarding growth, all Morrocoy turtle faecal samples were negative. There was growth in 5 soil samples and 1 water sample. Samples from the necropsy of a Slider (Icotea) turtle (Trachemys scripta spp.) (tissue, urine and abscess) were also obtained and only the abscess sample grew. Mycobacterium gordonae type 3 was identified in the abscess sample culture, Mycobacterium avium type 3 in soil samples and Mycobacterium fortuitum type 1 in water sample. The findings suggest the need of an ongoing surveillance, in order to identify the presence of mycobacteria; by means of appropriate lab tests (bacilloscopy, cultures, biochemical and molecular tests). We have to do our best to avoid that turtles continue being part of an epidemiological cycle of transmission as healthy carriers and human contact must be strictly necessary by applying biosafety regulations.