Salmonella in free-living exotic and native turtles and in pet exotic turtles from SW Spain

Abstract

We screened 78 native and 94 exotic turtles from natural ponds and 39 exotic pet turtles for presence of Salmonella, resulting with infection rates of 6.61%, 6.4%, and 5.1%, respectively. Concurrent shedding of multiple serotypes of the bacteria was only detected in one pet turtle. Eleven isolates were obtained in free-living turtles, including serotypes commonly found in reptiles and also the serotype Typhimurium, which is commonly related to human infections. In pet turtles, the five serotypes isolated were different to those isolated in free-living turtles and had been reported to cause reptile-associated salmonellosis in humans. These results confirm the risk of transmission of Salmonella from free-living and pet turtles to humans, demanding the necessity of regulation of pet turtle trade in Europe. .

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%.…”

“…15,16 In the study of Hidalgo-Vila et al on free-living Valencian turtles, the prevalence of Salmonella was 11.0 ± 2.3%. 17,18 The detected frequency in our study was higher than that described in other areas, mainly in Italy (24%), 18 Korea (30% including turtles and other reptiles), 19 Spain (5%), 13 and the United States (0%). 20 Therefore, in comparison to other studies, 38.8% of frequency of Salmonella contamination in sampled Caspian pond turtles was related to moderate to high degree Salmonella contamination in turtles' population worldwide.…”

“…Totally, documented results from similar surveys have publicized that the Salmonella contamination in pet turtles fluctuated from 0% to 72.2% [12][13][14] and also in free-living turtles from 0% to 15.4%. 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 However, in some studies, one individual of reptiles was detected with simultaneous contamination with several serotypes. It could have been occurred due to the poor hygienic situations of reptile habitat; a fact that could weaken the immune system and rise the danger of Salmonella spread among individuals.…”

Alien species and public health impacts in Europe: a literature review

“…Again, the covered species were predominantly introduced as contaminants (total n=21 taxa), however some articles (e.g. Hidalgo-Vila et al 2008, Hulina 2010) covered several taxa which escaped (n=19 taxa) or were released (n=9 taxa) (Figure 3, Suppl. material 2).…”