Bacterial flora in the gut ofHelix aspersa(Gastropoda Pulmonata): evidence for a permanent population with a dominant homolactic intestinal bacterium,Enterococcus casseliflavus

Abstract

We previously demonstrated the existence of bacteria degrading carboxy-methyl-cellulose in the gut of the phytophagous snail Helix aspersa and found Enterobacteriaceae predominating in the intestine of snails dissected in aerobic conditions. Here, we investigated the effects of several nutritional treatments on the snail's microflora. Food sterilization led to increased snail growth and reduced cellulase activity in the crop, suggesting a noxious effect of microbial exogenous cellulases. A second aim of this study was to look for anaerobic bacteria. No strict anaerobic cellulolytic, homoacetogenic, or methanogenic bacteria were enriched from the gut. However, a motile Gram-positive homolactic coccobacillus, grown in anaerobic conditions, dominated in the snail's intestine (1.57 x 109± 0.10 x 109cells.g-1intestine). It was identified as Enterococcus casseliflavus. Its occurrence in the intestine of H. aspersa is discussed with regard to the snail's digestive processes and the presence of a fecal mucous ribbon. A possible snail-bacterium synergistic action is suggested.Key words: snail, Helix aspersa, gut, Enterococcus casseliflavus, fermentative homolactic bacterium, antibiotics.