RESEARCH ARTICLE

IMPACT OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE IN WILD BIRD DROPPINGS – A COMPLICATION IN URBAN LANDSCAPES

Abstract

Identification of potentially pathogenic bacteria to human health in the environment is essential to manage ecosystem health. The study was conducted surrounding a Lake, in the city of Kandy, a highly urbanized tourist destination in Central Sri Lanka. Fifty samples of fresh bird droppings from House Crow (15), Little Cormorant (20), Rock Pigeon (05), Little Egret (05) and Black – crowned Night Heron (05) were collected at five different points using sterile swabs. After pretreatment with saline, 50 μL from each was spread on LB and M17 agar media. Plates were incubated at 37 ºC for 24 hours. Colony counts were taken. Different morphotypes were subjected to gram staining. Isolated organisms were identified through PCR based 16S rDNA sequencing. Highest count (CFU/mL) was obtained from House Crow (5.5×103) while the lowest obtained from Rock Pigeon (3.6×103). Twenty different bacteria were isolated with 88% being Gram-negative. Shannon and Margalef’s indices were 2.357 and 2.934, respectively. Enterobacter soli, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Sporosarcina koreensis, Staphylococcus sciuri, Sporosarcina aquimarina were observed in all bird species. Enterobacter hormaechei and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae were observed in House Crow. Accordingly, birds can act as reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria and could transmit them to human through bird droppings.

Keywords: wild birds, bird droppings, 16S rDNA sequencing, pathogenic bacteria

How to Cite: Weerasinghe,M.A.Y.N,Magana–Arachchi,D.N, (2019). IMPACT OF MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPORTANCE IN WILD BIRD DROPPINGS – A COMPLICATION IN URBAN LANDSCAPES.WILDLANKA, 8(1):Pages 197-208

Published On:2019-03-31

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