Prevalence of Salmonella in Fecal Samples of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus Fuliginosus)

Abstract

This is the first extensive study of the prevalence of naturally acquired Salmonella infection in wild-caught kangaroos in Australia. Given the close association between kangaroos, livestock, and humans and the growing popularity of kangaroo meat, it is important to identify epidemiologic factors associated with infection in these marsupials in order to minimize the risk of Salmonella transmission. The overall prevalence of fecal Salmonella in 645 western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) sampled across 10 locations in Western Australia was 3.6% (95% CI: 2.3-5.3). Seven Salmonella serovars were identified including Salmonella enterica serovar Muenchen, Kiambu, Rubislaw, Lindern, Champaign, Saintpaul and II 42:g,t:-. Prevalence was significantly associated with rainfall (P<0.05) and was highest in the April-June quarter (P<0.05). There was no association between age or sex and the prevalence of Salmonella in fecal samples. Our results suggest that, while kangaroos are infected with Salmonella in their natural habitat, infection is less common than in hand-reared joeys, pet kangaroos, and macropods raised in captivity. Care should be taken to maintain hygiene during the evisceration, processing, and handling of kangaroos and to adequately cook kangaroo meat prior to consumption to reduce the risk of salmonellosis.

Serovars and antimicrobial resistance of non‐typhoidal Salmonella isolated from non‐diarrhoeic dogs in Grenada, West Indies

“…However, it has been reported as a cause of clinical salmonellosis with positive blood cultures in children at the Children's Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada (Cellucci et al 2010), and has been implicated in human infection from feral pigeons. It also has been isolated from beef samples in Morocco and from faecal samples of kangaroos in Australia (Haag-Wackernagel & Moch 2004;Bouchrif et al 2009;Potter et al 2011). Isolation of a novel Salmonella serovar (S. Kiambu) from a dog indigenous to a developing country like Grenada is important to understand the possible role of domestic animals in the spread of novel pathogenic Salmonella serovar in the environment and zoonotic transmission.…”

Impact of Season, Demographic and Environmental Factors on Salmonella Occurrence in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from Swine Farms and Conservation Areas in Southern Ontario

“…Higher rainfall was also associated with lower carriage of Salmonella in mongoose feces [ 29 ], and a negative correlation was found between rainfall the previous 30 days prior to sample collection and Salmonella excreted by quokkas ( Setonix brachyurus ), an Australian marsupial [ 69 ]. Dietary shifts associated with rainfall have been hypothesized to alter the intestinal microbiota and influence fecal shedding of Salmonella in free-ranging kangaroos [ 43 ]. It has also been suggested that rainfall might help disseminate Salmonella throughout the environment [ 29 ].…”

“…Two distinct seasons were considered: rearing (May–July) and pre-denning/dispersal (August–October) as defined by Rosatte et al [ 38 ]. Sum of rainfall and mean temperature prior to 30 days of sample collection were used because this time period for rainfall was found to be significantly associated with Salmonella carriage in free-ranging wildlife in other studies [ 29 , 43 ]. Mean daily temperature and total rainfall per day were downloaded from Environment Canada from the nearest weather station with complete data (Fergus Ministry of the Environment (MOE), ON) from 2011 to 2013.…”

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Cane Toads (Bufo marinus) from Grenada, West Indies, and their Antimicrobial Susceptibility

“…Toads are therefore a potential vector for the spread of salmonellosis. In a recent study, in Australia, on kangaroos, prevalence of Salmonella was significantly associated with rainfall (Potter et al., 2011). Additionally, Haley et al.…”