Plasma Activity of the Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris)

Abstract

Crocodilians exhibit well-defined social behaviors, which frequently result in serious wounds as a consequence of social disputes including the loss of entire limbs. Despite the severity of many wounds, there is typically little sign of infection. A common question is how these animals survive with serious wounds without showing obvious signs of illness, particularly when living in environments containing potentially pathogenic microbes. In this study we determined in vitro plasma antibacterial activity of the Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) against Escherichia coli and compared it to that in hen (Gallus gallus) and human plasma. Colony forming units were measured at different exposure times (0, 1, 3, and 6 h). The antibacterial activity of Broad-snouted caiman plasma was consistently superior to those of human and hen plasma, and hen plasma had greater activity than human plasma except at 3 h of exposure. Only C. latirostris plasma completely inhibited E. coli proliferation at 6 h.