Ankara Üniv Vet Fak Derg, 59, 147-149, 2012 Short Communication / Kısa Bilimsel Çalışma Investigation of Yersinia spp. and Aeromonas hydrophila prevalences in Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) Osman Yaşar TEL 1 , Oktay KESKİN 1 1 Harran University, Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Microbiology, Şanlıurfa, Turkey. Summary: Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) is in the Red List of Threatened Species published by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of Aeromonas hydrophila and Yersinia species in feces of Northern Bald Ibis. In the study, 29 (35.3%) A. hydrophila and 22 (26.8%) Yersinia species were isolated from stool samples. In isolated Yersinia species, 8 (9.7%) Y. enterocolitica, 5 (6%) Yersinia spp, 4 (4.8%) Y. frederiksenii, 3 (3.6%) Y. intermedia and 2 (2.4%) Y. kristensenii were identified. In conclusion, Yersinia spp. and A. hydrophila have been found at high rates in Northern Bald Ibis stool. Key words: Aeromonas hydrophila, Northern Bald Ibis,Yersinia spp. Kelaynaklarda Yersinia spp. ve Aeromonas hydrophila sıklığının araştırılması Özet: Kelaynaklar (Geronticus eremita), Uluslararası Doğa ve Doğal Kaynakları Koruma Birliği tarafından yayınlanan kırmızı listede, türleri tehdit altında olan kuşlar olarak bildirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, kelaynak dışkılarından Aeromonas hydrophila ve Yersinia türlerinin sıklığının araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada, 29 (%35.3) A. hydrophila ve 22 (%26.8) Yersinia türü izole edilmiştir. Yersinia türlerinin 8 (%9.7)’i Y. enterocolitica, 5 (%6)’i Yersinia spp., 4 (%4.8)’ü Y. frederiksenii, 3 (%3.6)’ü Y. intermedia ve 2 (%2.4)’si Y. kristensenii olarak identifiye edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, kelaynak dışkılarından yüksek oranda Yersinia spp. ve A. hydrophila olduğu saptanmıştır. Anahtar sözcükler: Aeromonas hydrophila, Kelaynak, Yersinia spp. Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) is in the Red List of Threatened Species published by IUCN. These birds are almost being extinct as very few of them left in the world, in Turkey for example it can be seen only in the Birecik district of Sanliurfa. Besides few left in Turkey, they're also visible in Morocco and lately in Syria. Their total population is estimated to be around 530 in the wild and about 1500 in captivity, of which about 100 in Sanliurfa area (2). Aeromonas and Yersinia species are pathogenic or opportunistic pathogens for humans and animals (1). Y. enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like organisms are widely distributed in nature. They can be isolated from humans, animals, food and environmental samples (14). Y. pseudotuberculosis and Y. enterocolitica are two species that are pathogenic for both humans and animals (16). Wild birds are thought to be a significant reservoir for Y. pseudotuberculosis (5). Many Aeromonas species are free-living saprophytes commonly found in fresh water, soil and sewage (1). Animals and birds (particularly aquatic birds) can be fecal carriers of motile Aeromonas species (18). Reports of disease caused by Aeromonas species in livestock and companion animals, except for humans are rare. A. hydrophila has been associated with diarrhoea in piglets, abortion and reproductive problems in mares, septicaemia in dogs, acute deaths in aviary birds and conjunctivitis in a pet parrot (3). The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of A. hydrophila and Yersinia species in feces of Northern Bald Ibis. In this study, stool samples were taken from Northern Bald Ibis cages in Birecik, Sanliurfa, Turkey. A total of 82 stool samples were collected and placed into sterile containers and examined within two hours of sampling. Samples were cultivated at the laboratory of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Harran. Yersinia spp. were isolated, identified, and characterized on the basis of morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics as previously described (9, 17). Before direct plating, 5 ml of phosphate-buffered