Airborne bacteria cultivated from underground hibernation sites in the Nietoperek bat reserve (Poland)

摘要

The study is the first report of cultivable bacteria present in the close vicinity of hibernating bats. Samples were collectedin January 2016 in one location outside the hibernation site and in five locations underground. Samples wereincubated at 7 and 37 °C. Bacteria were identified based on phenotypic tests and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Air samplescollected inside of underground sites contained more propagules of bacteria (from 232  28.3 to 1189  124.7 bacterialcolony-forming units per m3 of air) than outdoor air samples (42  12.2). In total, eight species of airborne bacteria belongingto three phyla and three orders were cultured from the samples. More species of airborne bacteria, eight, wereisolated from the indoor underground air samples than from the outdoor air, two, especially in close vicinity to hibernatingbats. Generally, Actinobacteria dominated in this study. Paeniglutamicibacter psychrophenolicus was isolated mostfrequently from samples incubated at 7 °C, and Micrococcus luteus from samples incubated at 37 °C. Additionally, thestudy was supplemented by detailed phenotypic and physiological characteristics of airborne bacteria obtained in theNietoperek bat reserve.