Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Citrobacter freundii Isolated from Healthy Pet Turtles and their Environment

Abstract

Background: Zoonotic Citrobacter freundii infection can occur if pet turtle owners fail to hygienically handle the turtle or the turtles environment. Therefore, the virulence characteristics and resistance patterns of C. freundii to commonly used antimicrobials should be understood. Methodology: Citrobacter freundii isolates were characterized by conventional pathogenicity tests, such as proteolysis, biofilm formation and hemolysis, PCR assays of virulence genes and antimicrobial disk diffusion tests. Results: Forty seven presumptive C. freundii isolates obtained from 41 fecal and 18 environmental samples including water and soil samples were confirmed as C. freundii by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Proteolysis and biofilm formation were shown in 17 and 6 isolates, respectively.