Salmonella diversity associated with wild reptiles and amphibians in Spain

Abstract

During the spring and summer of 2001, faeces from 166 wild reptiles (94 individuals) and amphibians (72 individuals) from 21 different species found in central Spain were examined for the presence of Salmonella. Thirty-nine reptiles (41.5%) yielded 48 Salmonella isolates, whereas all the amphibians examined were negative. Subspecies Salmonella enterica enterica (I) accounted for up to 50% of isolates. Fourteen isolates (29.2%) belonged to subspecies diarizonae (IIIb), six isolates (12.5%) to subspecies salamae (II), and four isolates (8.3%) to subspecies arizonae (IIIa). Twenty-seven different serotypes were identified. Serotypes Anatum (12.5%), Herzliya (8.3%), Abony, 18:l,v:z, 9,12:z29:1,5 and 38:z10:z53 (6.2%/each) were the most frequently isolated. A high percentage (39.6%) of isolates belonged to serotypes previously associated with environmental sources. Also, 37.5% of isolates belonged to serotypes which had been related to human cases of salmonellosis. From these data, it is concluded that wild reptiles, but apparently not amphibians, may represent an important reservoir of Salmonella in nature and have potential implications for public health.

Salmonella in free-living exotic and native turtles and in pet exotic turtles from SW Spain

“…This is, together with Enteriditis, one of the most abundant serotypes of Salmonella isolated from humans (Chiodini and Sundberg, 1981;Baird-Parker, 1990;IFST, 1997;Olsen et al, 2001;Enternet 2006). The other serotypes identified Kottbus and Anatum, are commonly isolated in natural environments (Polo et al, 1999;Baudart et al, 2000), and are frequently isolated in reptiles (Abalem de Sá and Solari, 2001;Briones et al, 2004). In pet turtles, five isolates included in subspecies enterica (I) were obtained (Table 2).…”

“…All serotypes identified have been also isolated in humans during the last years (Olsen et al, 2001;CDC, 2003;Enter-net 2006). The most prevalent, Potsdam, has been previously reported in reptiles (Vincent et al, 1960;Briones et al, 2004;Hidalgo-Vila et al, 2008), although it is not one of the most common serotypes affecting humans. Indeed, it has been identified as the most abundant serotype of aquatic and terrestrial turtles of another locality in southwestern Spain (HidalgoVila et al, 2007).…”

“…Chelonians are important carriers of Salmonella (Vincent et al, 1960;Chiodini and Sundberg, 1981;Pasmans et al, 2000;Briones et al, 2004;Hidalgo-Vila et al, 2007, 2008 and reptiles have been frequently reported as responsible for salmonellosis in humans, especially in children (Mermin et al, 1997;Woodward et al, 1997;Warwick et al, 2001;Mermin et al, 2004;Corrente et al, 2006). However, at present, there are no laws in Europe regulating the trade and safe keeping of turtles in captivity.…”

Presence of Multidrug-Resistant <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Enterococcus</i> spp. and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Lakes and Fountains of Porto, Portugal

“…Although this subspecies is not frequently associated to pathogenecity in humans, some reports from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Veterinary Services Laboratories from USA (NSVL) noticed this serotype as a clinical isolate from nonhuman sources (isolated from wild birds). Other studies showed a prevalence of Salmonella enterica salamae in reptiles and amphibians [51]. In addition, preliminary results from a study which we are conducting in the beaches of Porto showed a high prevalence of salmonella (77.3%) in seagull feces (n = 40) (unpublished data).…”

Prevalence and characteristics of Salmonella species isolated from captive reptiles in the Czech Republic

“…Pogona vitticeps unspecified reptile (Wikstrom et al 2014) Pogona vitticeps (Pees et al 2013 (Briones et al 2004). This could be due to the high number of reptile species bred in captivity together with the large variety of serotypes isolated from them.…”