The aims of this study were to characterize the choanal and cloacal aerobic bacterial flora in healthy captive green iguanas and to compare it with the bacterial flora of the biofilm present in the water container of each terrarium. Samples were collected from the choana and the cloaca of 20 healthy captive adult green iguanas and from the biofilm of 15 water containers. The final identification of aerobic bacteria was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Salmonella positive samples were serotyped. The most common strains observed at each test location were from 1) choanae: Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacter cloacae and Comamonas testosteroni; 2) cloacae: Citrobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and Corynebacterium spp.; and 3) biofilms: Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp. and Acidovorax spp. We showed that apart from Salmonella spp., the choanal and cloacal bacterial flora differed from the microorganisms present in the biofilm of the animal's water container. These data revealed that healthy captive adult green iguanas harbored several aerobic bacterial strains that in immunosuppressed reptiles may act as opportunistic pathogens. Also, several of the aerobic bacteria identified in samples are potential zoonotic agents. Characterization of the normal background flora in captive reptiles and their environment can contribute to an understanding of the spread of bacterial contamination and the risk of potential zoonotic diseases for people in contact with these animals. Reptiles, biofilm, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, serotypePrevious studies in clinically healthy captive lizards showed a predominance of Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Serratia spp. and Enterobacter spp. in the oral cavity of green iguanas (Barten 2002) and Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Corynebacterium spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. in the cloaca of giant lizards (Martínez Silvestre et al. 2003). These studies have helped us to understand the normal bacterial flora in captive lizards and to interpret the significance of bacterial strains in ill individuals.Pet green iguanas are kept for many years in indoor terrariums. This situation leads us to consider the influence of the bacterial population in the biofilm that forms on the water container that is used by the lizard to drink from and bathe in, on the bacterial community of the lizard.The aims of this study were to characterize and compare the aerobic bacterial flora between the choanal and cloacal sites in healthy captive adult green iguanas, and with the bacteria of the water container in their terrariums. This information will explore the hypothesis that the biofilm in water containers may perpetuate and spread bacterial contamination between animals and between terrariums. Furthermore, these data will contribute to knowledge of the normal background flora in pet iguanas and their environ...

This study was aimed at determining the prevalence and characterising the strains of Salmonella species in various captive reptiles in the Czech Republic. A total of 211 samples of cloacal swabs from lizards, chelonians and snakes, and 14 swabs from terraria surfaces were collected between November 2014 and July 2015. After isolation according to the reference method (EN ISO), Salmonella spp. isolates were characterised using serotyping and macrorestriction analysis followed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Altogether, 39 isolates were obtained from 29 (19%) reptiles and from terraria surfaces. Among the different reptilian species, Salmonella spp. were found in 22 (25.6%) lizards, three (17.6%) snakes and four (8%) chelonians with 31 isolates classified as Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica and eight isolates classified as Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae. In total, 14 different serotypes were detected, with the most frequent serotypes being Salmonella Oranienburg, S. Fluntern, S. Tennessee and S. Cotham. Resistance to one antimicrobial agent (ampicillin, tetracycline or streptomycin) was detected in five isolates. The results of the macrorestriction analysis within the serotype groups showed varying level of heterogeneity. This study confirms that reptiles kept as pets can be both carriers and reservoirs of Salmonella spp., and that they can harbour various serotypes with intermittent excretion of the bacteria in faeces. Half of the detected serotypes have been involved in human reptileassociated salmonellosis cases in the past.

Salmonella can be present in the intestinal flora of captive reptiles without clinical disease or it can cause life threatening morbidity. The presence of certain species of Salmonella in reptiles is consistent with them being the source of contamination in some cases of human disease. Thus, Salmonella positive animals can be a potential public health concern even more when strains acquire resistance to antibiotics. The nature and extent of Salmonella harboured by different species of reptiles commonly kept in captivity are not known. The aims of this study were to analyse the incidence of Salmonella species in cloacae as an indicator of the intestinal flora in a cohort of healthy captive bred female veiled chameleons. A cloacal sample was taken from each of fifteen healthy captive bred, adult female veiled chameleons that were housed at a teaching and research clinic. Salmonella isolates were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and positive cases were serotyped by slide agglutination test. Salmonella organisms were detected in 12 chameleons. Eighty percent of chameleons harboured 1 of 4 subspecies and serovars of Salmonella. All strains belonged to the species enterica, predominantly subspecies enterica (91.7 %) and were distributed among 4 different serovars: S.