Isolation and characterization of Morganella morganii from Asian water monitor Varanus salvator

An Asian water monitor Varanus salvator with physical wound due to bite which was subsequently infected with bacterium resulting to hemorrhage and pus in the skin blisters, abdominal distention and septicemia. Morganella morganii was isolated and identified from the blood and kidney of the reptile, and confirmed by PCR and biochemical tests. The sensitivity of isolated strains to different groups of antibiotics was also evaluated using the disc diffusion method. Pathogenicity test using M. morganii (SNUFPC-MM01) (1.6 × 10¹¹CFU/mouse) to suckling and adult mice resulted to the death of all mice. This paper describes the first isolation of M. morganii from Asian water monitor in Korea.