Alessandro Delli Paoli Carini

Antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates from captive green turtles and in vitro sensitivity to bacteriophages

The increasing quantities of antibiotics released in the environment due to anthropogenic activities are selecting for resistant bacterial strains. Furthermore, broad-spectrum antibiotics can further jeopardise the health of hospitalised green turtles (Chelonia mydas) by killing the intestinal bacterial flora on which they rely for hind-gut fermentation. Alessandro investigated the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in hospitalised green turtles and in coastal environments and suggested the use of bacteriophages (tiny viruses that parasitise bacteria) as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections. This research found a strong presence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in hospitalised green turtles and in their coastal environments, which will require further investigations.