Isolation and identification of respiratory tract and intestinal microflora of Meriones meridianus in a conventional animal facility

Background Culturable bacterial species from the respiratory tract and ileocecal junction of Meriones meridianus (midday gerbils) captured in the Xinjiang Luntai area were isolated and identified to confirm the microflora and develop approaches for biological purification of laboratory animals and relevant microbial precautions. Methods Bacteria from respiratory tracts and ileocecal junctions of 30 wild M. meridianus were harvested and isolated by inoculation into culture media. Isolated strains were confirmed by mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing. Results Thirty‐nine bacterial species from 20 families and 27 genera were identified and isolated from wild M. meridianus. Typical bacteria were Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus aureus, and the most common microflora were Vibrio, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusion Wild M. meridianus carries multiple bacteria, most of which are pathogenic or conditional pathogens. This study provides a basis for the development of animal models and laboratory animals from wild M. meridianus.