STUDY OF THE MICROBIOTA IN A Rana catesbeiana HATCHERY IN AUTUMN

MONTEL MENDOZA, G.; ALE, C. E.; PASTERIS, S.E.; OTERO, M.C.; BUHLER, M.I.; NADER-MACÍAS, M. E.

BIOCELL

Inca Ed.

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2008

0327-9545

R. catesbeiana is the selected specie for raniculture and its culture in an intensive process that enhances the risks of epizootics such as the red-leg syndrome (RLS). Nowadays, the probiotic utilization represents an alternative to avoid the use of antibiotics. Thus, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the microbiota in a hatchery from Córdoba-Argentina, to select probiotic strains and RLS-related pathogens. Samples were taken from dorsal and ventral skin, and cloaca of healthy animals in fattening phase of growth, water, and balanced feed. Serial dilutions were plated on selective and differential media. The UFC/mL were determined after incubating at 37°C for 24h in microaerofilia or anaerobiosis. Gram staining and catalase activity allowed classifying the selected colonies. The results show that the microbiota is composed by Bacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterobacteriaceae, and yeasts. Pseudomonas spp and Staphylococcus spp., RLS-associated pathogens, were also present. This study represents the first approach in the isolation of LAB from cloaca (106 UFC/mL) of R. catesbeiana, Bacillus spp., (102-106 UFC/mL) and Bifidobacterium spp., (101-103 UFC/mL) from a R. catesbeiana hatchery. The evaluation of the beneficial properties of the isolates will be performed to go further in the design of a probiotic for raniculture.