Title
Frogs host faecal bacteria typically associated with humans.
Link to article in PubMed
Author(s)
Gibb, Karen
Schobben, Xavier
Christian, Keith
Abstract
Tree frogs commonly access drinking water tanks; this may have human health implications. Although amphibians might not be expected to host mammalian faecal indicator bacteria (FIB), it is possible that they may have human FIB on their skin after exposure to human waste. We collected faeces and skin wash from green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea) from a natural environment, a suburban site, and a suburban site near a creek occasionally contaminated with sewage effluent. We used molecular techniques to test for FIB that are routinely used to indicate human faecal contamination. Enterococci colonies were isolated from both faecal and skin wash samples, and specific markers (Enterococcus faecium and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron) were found in frog faeces, demonstrating that these markers are not human- or mammalian-specific. Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was detected in frogs from both natural and urban sites, but E. faecium was only associated with the sewage impacted site.
Publication information
Canadian journal of microbiology 2017-07; 63(7): 633-637
Date Issued
2017-07-01
Type
Journal Article
Journal Title
Canadian journal of microbiology
Permanent link to this record
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