Examinations of Young Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) for the Detection of Salmonellae in the Environment

Abstract

Literak 1., A. Cizek, M. Honza: Using Examinations of Young Black-headed C,ulls (LaTUS ridibundus) for the Detection of Salmonellae in the Environment. Acta vet. Bmo, 61, 1992: 141-146. During June 1991, cloacal smears from nestlings and chicks of black-headed gull (LaTUS ridibundus) of the nesting colonies in the middle reservoir of the water system Nove MIYnY (Breclav district) were examined for the presence 'of salmonellae. On 13 June 1991, 96 yo ng gulls were examined and salmonellae were found in 20 gulls (i. e. 20.83 %), the serotypes being Salmonella typhimurium and S. derby.On 25 June 1991, 171 juvenile gulls were examined and salmonellae were found in 63, i. e. 36.84 % (S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. agona, S. montevideo, S. derby, S. hadar, S. infantis and S. abony. On 16 May 1991, 79 eggs of black-headed gulls from the same colony were examined and no salmonellae were found.It was proved that the water flowing into the reservoir from the river Jihlava and river Svratka in June 1991 was contaminated with salmonellae (i. e. S. ~vphimurium, S. montevideo).Examinations of the juvenile black-headed gulls can be used for the detection of the occurrence of salmonellae in the water. Salmonellae, black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus), eggs, nestlings, chicks, waterAnalyses of the occurrence of epidemiological and epizootological alimentary infections and intoxication have shown that the situation has considerably changed over the recent 10 years. In the Czech Republic, the incidence of salmonelloses in the human and farm animal populations has increased rapidly, Salmonella enteritidis being the main source of epidemics (Dedicova et al. 1990; Sramkova et al. 1991). The main source of salmonellae is the intestinal tract of sick people and animals. The salmonellae there find favourable conditions for reproduction and through the faeces they get out into the environment. Due to their tenacity and rapid adaptability they find convenient living conditions, particularly in biological refuse. Consequently, they can be found in sewage water from municipal agglomerations, from slaughter-houses, from farm buildings, and also in surface waters (Reilly et al. 1981;Johnston et al. 1986;Kominkova and Blatny 1987).We tried to find out how the contamination of surface water would affect the incidence of salmonellae in populations of wild birds. The black-headed gulls (Laruf ridibundus) were chosen as a model species because they are very numerous, partly synantrophic, and theyare in immediate contact with the water.In Czechoslovakia, Sery and Strauss (1957) drew attention to the incidence of salmonelloses in a colony of black-headed gulls. They isolated S. typhimurium in 77 % of clinically ill and dead gulls. Literak and Kraml (1985) examined cloacal smears from 23 flying black-headed gulls of the Hermanicky pond near Ostrava. In one case they isolated S. typhimurium. Cizek (1990) dealt with the incidence of salmonellae in black-headed gulls, he examined 502 birds from various localities and he isolated 8 se...

Wild black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus) as an environmental reservoir of Salmonella strains resistant to antimicrobial drugs

“…Gulls may be host reservoirs of various pathogenic bacteria including Salmonella (Edel et al 1976;Glünder et al 1991;Literák et al 1992Literák et al , 1996Quessy and Messier 1992;Čížek et al 1994;Sixl et al 1997;Refsum et al 2002;Nesse et al 2005;Palmgren et al 2006). Our findings suggest that the occurrence of salmonellae in black-headed gulls is influenced by the contamination of the environment where the gulls feed, which corresponds with previous report by Girdwood et al (1985).…”

“…In the Czech Republic, a high prevalence of Salmonella shedding was recorded among young black-headed gulls who may have become infected in the nest from the food brought to them, contaminated environment of the nesting colony, or contaminated water source for the reservoir (Literák et al 1992;Čížek et al 1994). It was also demonstrated that salmonellae survive in the environment of nesting colonies after the colony was abandoned and until the next nesting season and thereby infect gulls upon their return to the nesting colony (Literák et al 1996).…”

Antibiotic-resistantSalmonellaandEscherichia coliisolates with integrons and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in surface water and sympatric black-headed gulls

“…Many studies have recorded the presence of both human and animal pathogens, mainly Salmonella spp. (Literák et al. 1992; Čížek et al.…”

High prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant genes and integrons in Escherichia coli isolates from Black-headed Gulls in the Czech Republic

“…It may be a host reservoir of various pathogenic bacteria (Glunder et al. 1991; Literak et al. 1992; Quessy and Messier 1992; Cizek et al.…”