Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Salmonella enterica in Captive Wildlife and Exotic Animal Species in Ohio, USA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance patterns, phenotypic and genotypic relatedness of Salmonella enterica recovered from captive wildlife host species and in the environment in Ohio, USA. A total of 319 samples including faecal (n = 225), feed (n = 38) and environmental (n = 56) were collected from 32 different wild and exotic animal species in captivity and their environment in Ohio. Salmonellae were isolated using conventional culture methods and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility with the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Salmonella isolates were serotyped, and genotyping was performed using the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella was detected in 56 of 225 (24.9%) faecal samples; six of 56 (10.7%) environmental samples and six of 38 (15.8%) feed samples. Salmonella was more commonly isolated in faecal samples from giraffes (78.2%; 36/46), cranes (75%; 3/4) and raccoons (75%; 3/4). Salmonella enterica serotypes of known public health significance including S. Typhimurium (64.3%), S. Newport (32.1%) and S. Heidelberg (5.3%) were identified. While the majority of the Salmonella isolates were pan-susceptible (88.2%; 60 of 68), multidrug-resistant strains including penta-resistant type, AmStTeKmGm (8.8%; six of 68) were detected. Genotypic diversity was found among S. Typhimurium isolates. The identification of clonally related Salmonella isolates from environment and faeces suggests that indirect transmission of Salmonella among hosts via environmental contamination is an important concern to workers, visitors and other wildlife. Results of this study show the diversity of Salmonella serovars and public health implications of human exposure from wildlife reservoirs.

Prevalence and serovar diversity of Salmonella spp. in primary horticultural fruit production environments

“…Salmonella Heidelberg is predominantly associated with poultry (Foley et al, 2011), its occurrence in the present study is interesting since no intensive animal production activities were observed in the areas sampled suggesting other hosts such as wildlife as carriers of the pathogen (Botti et al, 2013;Farias et al, 2014). Salmonella Bsilla is a rarely found serovar and we are not aware of any outbreak report related to this organism in the literature.…”

A Protocol for the Ethical Assessment of Wild Animal–Visitor Interactions (AVIP) Evaluating Animal Welfare, Education, and Conservation Outcomes

“…In this phase, an exhaustive list of potential biological and physical hazards was created. The list of the zoonotic agents to be included was based on scientific reports of diseases in species involved in AVIs [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

“… Disease Species Bibliography Tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; M. bovis [ 34 , 35 , 36 ] Brucellosis Brucella spp. [ 37 , 38 , 39 ] Salmonellosis Salmonella enterica [ 40 , 41 ] E. coli infections Escherichia coli [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ] Campylobacteriosis Campylobacter spp. [ 46 ] Cryptosporidiosis Cryptosporidium muris [ 47 , 48 ] Listeriosis Listeria monocytogenes [ 49 ] Yersiniosis Yersinaia enterocolitica [ 49 ] Antimicrobial-Resistant bacteria MRSA (methicillin-resistant...…”

Salmonella enterica: una revisión de la trilogía agente, hospedero y ambiente, y su trascendencia en Chile

“…En cuanto a la fauna silvestre, diversos reportes sugieren que la infección es prevalente en animales de ambientes acuáticos, incluyendo aves y mamíferos 56,57 , aunque se desconoce el efecto ecológico de la infección en estas poblaciones. De ellos, el grupo con un mayor número de evidencias como portadores de S. enterica son las aves, debido a que estos animales han recibido el interés de los organismos sanitarios por su capacidad para difundir patógenos zoonóticos altamente transmisibles 58,59 .…”