COMPARATIVE RECTAL BACTERIAL-FLORA OF 4 SPECIES OF FLYING FOX (PTEROPUS SP.)

The rectal anaerobic and aerobic bacterial flora of four species of fl ying foxes were determined and compared. Four bacterial species were f ound in greater than or equal to 1 individual from each bat species at a significant (greater than or equal to 10%) level of the bacterial p opulation: alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus sp. (41 of 56 bats), Enteroco ccus sp. (25/56), Escherichia coli (21/56), and group D Streptococcus sp., not Enterococcus sp. (9/56). Five other microbial species were al so found in all four flying fox species, but at less significant perce ntages (found in at least one bat species, greater than or equal to 5% and less than or equal to 10% of the recovered microbial population). These were nonhemolytic Streptococcus sp. (30/56), yeast (26/56), Cor ynebacterium sp. (25/56), Staphylococcus sp. (25/56), and Staphylococc us aureus (22/56). The majority of the species found were gram-positiv e, and only two obligate anaerobes, a Lactobacillus and a Bacteroides sp., were recovered from one bat.