Molecular Identification of Culturable Bacteria and Vibrio Virulence-Related Genes Associated With Sea Turtle Eggshells and Nest Sediments in Pangandaran, Indonesia.

Microbial conditions within sea turtle nesting environments may influence egg health and hatching outcomes, yet information on culturable bacteria associated with sea turtle eggs and nest sediments in Indonesia remains limited. This study characterized culturable bacteria from eggshell surfaces of green turtles (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), unhatched eggs, and natural and seminatural hatchery sediments at Batu Hiu Beach, Pangandaran, Indonesia. Three eggs were sampled from each egg category, with eggs within each category originating from the same nest. Bacterial recovery was evaluated using selective and non-selective media, followed by colony characterization, Gram staining, and 16S rRNA sequencing of 21 representative isolates. Vibrio-related isolates were screened for toxR, tdh, and trh genes using PCR. Green turtle eggshell swabs showed the highest mean culturable bacterial count (2,358 C F U/m L), followed by olive ridley eggshell swabs (1,640 C F U/m L), whereasile hatchery sediment showed the lowest mean count (109 CFU/mL). Bacterial recovery differed among culture media (Friedman χ2 = 10.47, p = 0.0332; Kendall''s W = 0.436). Molecular analysis showed affiliations with Enterobacteriaceae, Vibrio, and other environmental bacterial groups. All five Vibrio-related isolates were positive for toxR, whereas tdh and trh were not detected.