Microbial Diversity in Gut of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis) On Exposure to Different Environment

Roheela Yasmeen*, Hifsa Ali Muhammad, Bushra Nisar Khan, Syeda Shazia Bokhari,Uzma Rafi, Aisha Waheed Qurashi

Abstract

Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) normally nest near water and normally feed in grass or wetlands. But now, they are changing their habitat and are also seen feeding on crop fields and garbage dumping sites. The study was conducted to assess gut flora of locally matured cattle egret exposed to different environments. The sampling was carried out in winter season of 2017 at two sites of Lahore, Havalian Karbath (rural, site 1) and Mehmood Booti (urban, site 2). The microbial analysis was carried out to find out diversity in bacterial fauna present in gut (stomach and intestine) of cattle egrets. The total of eight bacterial isolates was collected from stomach and intestine of site 1 and site 2. The characteristics study of bacterial isolates was based on morphological and biochemical tests. The bacterial isolates from site 1 were noticed as Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. However, from site 2, Staphylococcus spp., Listeria spp. and Streptococcus spp. were isolated. It was concluded on morphological characterization of isolates that diverse morphology of bacteria associated with gut flora of cattle egret on exposure to different environmental sites. However, a detailed study at species level is required to identify disease causing ability of microbes.