Prevalence of <i>Salmonella</i> in Wild Snakes in Japan

Abstract

SUMMARY: A total of 87 wild snakes of 6 species in 2 families collected in Japan were examined for the presence of Salmonella. The prevalence of Salmonella was 58.6z, and that of Salmonella enterica subspecies I, which includes most human pathogenic serotypes, accounted for 12.6z. S. enterica subspecies I was isolated from Japanese grass snakes and Japanese four-striped snakes, and the isolates belonged to 6 serotypes: S. enterica subspecies enterica serotypes Eastbourne, Mikawashima, Narashino, Newport, Saintpaul, and Thompson. The prevalence of S. enterica subspecies IIIb was higher (41.4z) than that of S. enterica subspecies I, and it was isolated from 4 snake species. The prevalence of Salmonella enterica subspecies and isolation of serotypes that are commonly detected in reptiles and human salmonellosis suggest that wild snakes may become a source of Salmonella infection.

Free-living snakes as a source and possible vector of Salmonella spp. and parasites

“…It is in line with German study reporting unknown and rare Salmonella serovars (Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013). The observed frequency of Salmonella carriage was higher than found in the literature (Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013;Kuroki et al 2013) but comparable to the studies focused on captive animals (Geue and Loschner 2002;Prapasarakul et al 2012). Our results clearly confirm freeliving snakes as reservoir of numerous S. enterica subspecies and serovars (Grupka et al 2006;Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013;Kuroki et al 2013).…”

“…The observed frequency of Salmonella carriage was higher than found in the literature (Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013;Kuroki et al 2013) but comparable to the studies focused on captive animals (Geue and Loschner 2002;Prapasarakul et al 2012). Our results clearly confirm freeliving snakes as reservoir of numerous S. enterica subspecies and serovars (Grupka et al 2006;Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013;Kuroki et al 2013). The tangible proofs for that are finding of S. enterica subspecies diarizonae 40:i:z 53 ,z 54 (not listed in White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme), and S. enterica subspecies diarizonae 48:k:z 57 already reported in free-living adders in Germany (Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2013) and humans in Poland (Issenhuth-Jeanjean et al 2014).…”

“…Further, reptileassociated Salmonella show less resistance compared to the ones from farm animals . The observed streptomycin resistance is usually the sole resistance being reported in often pan-susceptible Salmonella of snake origin (Kuroki et al 2013;Schmidt et al 2014;Smith et al 2012;Zając et al 2013).…”

“…Definitely, wildlife snakes carry a broad range of bacteria and parasites that differs considerably by geographical locations and source species (Borkovcová and Kopřiva 2005;Fitzgerald et al 2013;Hacioglu and Tosunoglu 2014;Lukac et al 2015;Scheelings et al 2011;Schmidt et al 2014;Shimalov and Shimalov 2000). Salmonella spp., being considered natural component of reptile gut flora, is one of the most frequently noted (Goupil et al 2012;Kuroki et al 2013;Prapasarakul et al 2012;Richards et al 2004;Scheelings et al 2011). Wildlife snakes are often reported as host of new parasites or record their new geographical location (Borkovcová and Kopřiva 2005;Halajian et al 2013;Santoro et al 2011;Shimalov and Shimalov 2000;Yildirimhan et al 2007).…”

Oral and cloacal aerobic bacterial and fungal flora of free-living four-lined snakes (Elaphe quatuorlineata) from Croatia

“…None of the samples in this study were positive to Salmonella sp., otherwise very frequent finding in snakes (KUROKI et al, 2013;SCHEELINGS et al, 2011;STING et al, 2013;LUKAC et al, 2015) and a common cause of disease in humans. Low incidence of Salmonella was also described by SCHMIDT et al (2014) who reported 14.3% (8/56) Salmonella spp.…”