Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

Posted by
  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

Diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of captive snakes

Posted by

 


Diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of captive snakes

Abstract

Venomous snake bites are a global public health issue, causing between 81 000 and 138 000 annual deaths and 400 000 permanent disabilities. This study investigated the oral bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles in captive Viperidae snakes. Oral swabs from 48 specimens across four species (Porthidium lansbergii, Bothriechis nigroviridis, Cerrophidion sasai, and Bothrops asper) were analyzed using culture-dependent methods. Bacterial isolation and identification using the VITEK 2 automated system revealed 41 strains from 12 genera, predominantly Gram-negative bacteria, including Morganella morganii (11 isolates) and Providencia rettgeri (10 isolates). Antibiotic susceptibility testing demonstrated significant resistance patterns, with 100% resistance to cephalothin and cefazolin in M. morganii, and emerging extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production in Enterobacter cloacae and Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The comparative analysis showed that P. lansbergii exhibited the highest bacterial diversity. These findings highlight the complex oral microbiota of venomous snakes and underscore the need for evidence-based antibiotic strategies in snakebite management, particularly given the global rise in antimicrobial resistance.
Young-Yusty, S., Prescilla-Ledezma, A., & Acosta-de Patiño, H. (2026). Diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from the oral cavity of captive snakes. Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 58(3), 100711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2026.100711