Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic diversity of Devriesea agamarum strains isolated from captive lizard collections
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, St. Norwida 31, Wrocław, 50-375 Poland
- 2Veterinary Laboratory Vetlab, Krakowska Ave 110, Warszawa, 02-256 Poland
- 3Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwida St 31, Wrocław, Poland
- 4Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida St 31, Wrocław, 50-375 Poland
- 5Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
- 6Kajman Veterinary Clinic, Prymasa Tysiąclecia Ave 76G, Warszawa, 01-424 Poland
Abstract
Background: Devriesea agamarum is a recognized pathogen of some reptile species. However, our knowledge on epidemiology as well as phenotypic and genotypic properties of this microorganism is still not fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to assess the occurrence of D. agamarum in clinically healthy and diseased lizards from several captive pet collections in Poland. The obtained isolates were characterised using selected biochemical and molecular methods. Owing to the clinical significance of the bacterium, the additional goal was to assess its antimicrobial susceptibility by the broth microdilution method.
Methods: Swabs from 80 lizards were subject to bacterial culture. The recovered isolates of D. agamarum were examined phenotypically (RapID™ CB PLUS commercial system and additional tests) and genotypically (ERIC-PCR and partial sequence analysis of the rpoB and dnaJ genes).
Results: In total, 29 isolates were obtained from 18 out of 38 sampled lizards displaying signs of infection, and from 11 out of 42 healthy individuals. The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) and spiny-tailed lizards (members of the genus Uromastyx) were recognised as asymptomatic carriers (with rates of 42.1 and 33.3%, respectively). Clinical infections in the former species were detected more frequently than reported previously. The present study also confirms the potential pathogenicity of D. agamarum to members of the family Chamaeleonidae. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that D. agamarum is a heterogeneous species; based on the rpoB or dnaJ genes, the isolates could be divided into 2 or 3 distinct clades, respectively. The MIC50/MIC90 values (µg/ml) for ampicillin, ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, gentamicin, tetracyclines and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were 0.5/1, 0.25/0.5, 1/>1, ≤ 1/2, 8/>8, 2/4 and > 2/38/>2/38, respectively.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1.
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BibTeX
@article{krol2026occurrence,
title = {{Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic diversity of Devriesea agamarum strains isolated from captive lizard collections}},
author = {Jarosław Król and Magdalena Florek and Gabriela Motyka and Anna Bogucka and Anna Wanecka and Maja Marynowska and Aleksandra Pliszczak-Król and Aleksandra Napierała and Sylwia Banaszkiewicz and Filip Pater-Jajdelski and Łukasz Skomorucha},
journal = {BMC Veterinary Research},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic diversity of Devriesea agamarum strains isolated from captive lizard collections
AU - Jarosław Król
AU - Magdalena Florek
AU - Gabriela Motyka
AU - Anna Bogucka
AU - Anna Wanecka
AU - Maja Marynowska
AU - Aleksandra Pliszczak-Król
AU - Aleksandra Napierała
AU - Sylwia Banaszkiewicz
AU - Filip Pater-Jajdelski
AU - Łukasz Skomorucha
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/04
JO - BMC Veterinary Research
DO - 10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1
AB - Background: Devriesea agamarum is a recognized pathogen of some reptile species. However, our knowledge on epidemiology as well as phenotypic and genotypic properties of this microorganism is still not fully elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to assess the occurrence of D. agamarum in clinically healthy and diseased lizards from several captive pet collections in Poland. The obtained isolates were characterised using selected biochemical and molecular methods. Owing to the clinical significance of the bacterium, the additional goal was to assess its antimicrobial susceptibility by the broth microdilution method. Methods: Swabs from 80 lizards were subject to bacterial culture. The recovered isolates of D. agamarum were examined phenotypically (RapID™ CB PLUS commercial system and additional tests) and genotypically (ERIC-PCR and partial sequence analysis of the rpoB and dnaJ genes). Results: In total, 29 isolates were obtained from 18 out of 38 sampled lizards displaying signs of infection, and from 11 out of 42 healthy individuals. The bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) and spiny-tailed lizards (members of the genus Uromastyx) were recognised as asymptomatic carriers (with rates of 42.1 and 33.3%, respectively). Clinical infections in the former species were detected more frequently than reported previously. The present study also confirms the potential pathogenicity of D. agamarum to members of the family Chamaeleonidae. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that D. agamarum is a heterogeneous species; based on the rpoB or dnaJ genes, the isolates could be divided into 2 or 3 distinct clades, respectively. The MIC50/MIC90 values (µg/ml) for ampicillin, ceftiofur, enrofloxacin, florfenicol, gentamicin, tetracyclines and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole were 0.5/1, 0.25/0.5, 1/>1, ≤ 1/2, 8/>8, 2/4 and > 2/38/>2/38, respectively. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-026-05785-1.
SN - 1746-6148
ER -