Lizards as vectors of human salmonellosis

Abstract

SUMMARYHuman infections withSalmonella saintpaulhave become more frequent in New Zealand in recent years. Most cases now occur in Otago. It is shown that wild lizards in Otago, particularly the common skink (Leiolopisma zelandica), carryS. saintpauland that most if not all human outbreaks of this salmonella serotype are associated with either lizards or lizard infested areas. So far as is known this is the first report incriminating lizards as the probable cause of human salmonellosis.

Molecular Epidemiology of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Saintpaul Isolated from Animals, Food, and Humans in 12 European Countries

“…Although clonally related isolates were found in a number of animal species, production types and different food over the five-year span, a high genetic diversity was observed in the tested S. Saintpaul isolates, presumably as a result of the length of the collection period. The results confirm the existence of multiple reservoirs and vehicles of transmission to humans, involving not only animals and food of animal origin, but also water (29), seafood (2), fruits, and vegetables (9,11,(21)(22)(23)(24), and even wildlife reptiles (17). Unlike some other serovars; however, feed could be discounted as important vector of S. Saintpaul transmission route (16,30).…”

“…The efforts to produce Salmonella-free hatching eggs might, however, be compromised by S. Saintpaul contamination of the hatchery environment, which could lead to the introduction of the pathogen into fattening flocks (3,4). As in other studies (17), the finding of S. Saintpaul in goose and duck breeders indicates that animals unrelated to turkeys may be reservoirs of infection, no direct relation was found to fattening flocks of geese and ducks or to food of thereof (Fig. 1).…”

“…In Japan, S. Saintpaul appeared in humans in 1997 and it was ranked ninth in 1999 and fourth in 2002 in a list of Salmonella serovars from human sources (18). Large and widely dispersed outbreaks caused by S. Saintpaul occurred in Australia (in 1999 and 2006), New Zealand (1967)(1968), and the United States (2008) (17,24,26,29).…”

Salmonella in meat from hunted game: A Central European perspective

“…not only in animals hunted for meat consumption. Healthy hosts like birds and reptiles shelter Salmonella at a frequency of less than 5% and 14%, respectively (De Hamel & McInnes, 1971;Reche et al, 2003;Scheelings, Lightfoot, & Holz, 2011) but they do so more readily than wild game. Multiple Salmonella serovars are detected in birds and cold-blooded animals, with serovar S. Typhimurium being the most frequent (Hudson et al, 2000;Reche et al, 2003;Renter et al, 2006).…”

Ribotyping of Salmonella Poona in Iguana-Associated Zoonotic Salmonellosis

“…Even though several reptile-associated salmonellosis cases in infants and young children have been reported, 6,11,15 reptiles are popular pets in the USA. However, these animals are not the pets of choice for children because they can harbor several Salmonella serotypes and other potentially pathogenic bacteria simultaneously.…”