SalmonellaInfection in Illegally Imported Spur‐Thighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca)

Abstract

The prevalence of Salmonella infection was determined in a group of spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) seized during two smuggling attempts and in a population of captive Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) sheltered in a wildlife rescue centre. Salmonella spp. was isolated in 81 of 220 (36.8%) and in 17 of 67 (25.4%) cloacal swabs collected from the T. graeca and T. hermanni tortoises respectively. Overall, a total of 21 different Salmonella serotypes were found. Some of these serotypes are common to terrestrial chelonians while others have never been reported. All cultured serotypes were non-typhoidal but nonetheless many of these have been previously reported as source of human outbreaks of reptile-related salmonellosis. Eighty-two per cent and 5.3% of the isolates were resistant to two and three anti-microbial agents respectively. However, the isolates were highly susceptible to the anti-microbials of choice for the treatment of salmonellosis such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Our findings confirm that tortoises can be considered a reservoir for Salmonella and that care should be employed when handling and breeding these animals. Tight surveillance should be enforced to avoid illegal importation and prevent the trading of live tortoises, carriers of zoonotic pathogens.

Dissemination of Zoonotic Antibiotic Resistant Serotypes of Salmonella by Caspian Pond Turtles, Golestan and Mazandaran Provinces, Iran

“…12 Previous studies on the Salmonella contamination of tortoises conducted worldwide showed heterogeneous results with the frequency of 100% in Testudo graeca tortoises in Morocco, 36.8% in T. graeca from North African countries, and 49.1% in tortoises farmed in southern Italy. 13,15 Frequency of Salmonella contamination in sampled Caspian pond turtles is similar to the results stated by Percipalle et al and Savage and Baker, and who detected a prevalence of 38.0% and 34.1%, respectively in tortoises. 15,16 In the study of Hidalgo-Vila et al on free-living Valencian turtles, the prevalence of Salmonella was 11.0 ± 2.3%.…”

Salmonella serovar spectrum associated with reptiles in Poland

“…enterica. This serovar of Salmonella was also found to be predominant by other investigators (Pedersen et al 2009;Percipalle et al 2011;Nowakiewicz et al 2012;Marin et al 2013). Pasmans et al (2005) examined 44 serotypes of Salmonella enterica from pet reptiles and found that all were able to invade human intestinal epithelial cells and could cause a disease, depending on the age of individual and their immune status.…”

“…Moreover, in Italy Salmonella spp. were isolated from 81 of 220 (36.8%) and from 17 of 67 (25.4%) cloacal swabs collected from T. graeca and T. hermanni tortoises, respectively (Percipalle et al 2011). These findings confirm that tortoises can be considered a reservoir for Salmonella.…”

Turtle-Associated <i>Salmonella</i> Infections in Kanagawa, Japan

“…Spur-thighed tortoises are one of the most popular types of pet tortoises and originate in areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Previous reports have demonstrated that spur-thighed tortoises frequently harbor Salmonella and that S. enterica subspecies enterica isolates from these tortoises include 23 serotypes (28)(29)(30)(31)(32). Accordingly, spur-thighed tortoises should be considered a major source of Salmonella for humans.…”

“…Accordingly, spur-thighed tortoises should be considered a major source of Salmonella for humans. Among the serotypes isolated from the tortoises, S. enterica subspecies enterica serovar Abony was one of the most prevalent (29,30). Although parents often think that turtles are safer for children than lizards and snakes, children are at a high risk of contracting turtle-associated salmonellosis from small turtles because they can be easily handled and placed in the mouth (4)(5)(6).…”