Sporadic Infections of Salmonella Paratyphi B, var. Java Associated with Fish Tanks

Abstract

Objective: Identify a source of contamination to explain the increase in the number of cases of S. Paratyphi B var. Java infection.Method: A descriptive study was conducted to gather more information about cases and potential risk factors for infection. Between January 2000 and June 2003, we identified and interviewed by questionnaire 53 people with S. Paratyphi B infection. Due to the suspected link with fish tanks, an environmental investigation was conducted for each case at patients' homes as well as at pet stores and wholesalers. Various samples were taken from fish tanks. The fish were purchased at different pet shops. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis method was used to compare the human and aquarium strains.Results: Of those infected, 60% had bought or had contact with an aquarium or tropical fishes before becoming ill. More than 50% of the samples taken from fish tanks in homes, pet shops, and wholesaler operations contained a number of serotypes of Salmonella in addition to Salmonella Paratyphi B var. Java. There were similarities between the PFGE patterns of human strains and aquarium samples.Discussion: Contact with fish tanks could be a risk factor for developing a Salmonella infection and the public may be unaware of this risk. It was recommended that information be produced and distributed to pet shops and their customers to inform them of safety precautions in order to reduce the risk of contamination from bacterial pathogens that may be present in aquarium water.MeSH terms: Salmonella Paratyphi B; sporadic infections; fish tanks La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Zoonotic bacteria, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in ornamental fish: a systematic review of the existing research and survey of aquaculture-allied professionals

“…All reported outbreaks linked to ornamental fish exposure involved Salmonella serovars [68–73]. In Australia, clusters of cases associated with S .…”

“…Paratyphi B var. Java were reported in the province of Québec, Canada [68, 69], initially indicating [69] that 3/6 aquaria owned by cases were positive for several Salmonella serovars, including Paratyphi B var. Java, Matopeni, and Typhimurium phage-type 104.…”

“…It is important to note that in the majority of the case reports analysed, clinicians hypothesized causation due to direct topical contact of cases with fish or aquarium water (other than Salmonella cases, which are caused by ingestion), but this was rarely confirmed by concurrent isolation of the suspected pathogen from the fish exposure source. In only 10 studies was the linkage confirmed through detection of a phenotypic match from the patient and their fish and/or aquarium water [35, 68–73, 87–89], while a genotypic match was seldom confirmed [70, 73]. Lack of research reporting contributions of other zoonotic pathogens to human illness due to exposure to ornamental fish may be due to under-reporting.…”

“…Epidemiological and bacterial links between cases and posited source-exposures were more frequently investigated in outbreaks of salmonellosis, probably as result of coordinated (and perhaps regulatory) response within respective jurisdictions [68–73, 88]. The detection of the ‘fish tank strain’ S .…”

Occurrence of Salmonella in the environment

“…W wyniku badań działu wodnego rzeki Oconee w USA zidentyfikowano 19 serowarów występujących w 62 punktach poboru próbek (34). Dochodzenie epidemiologiczne w Kanadzie ujawniło zanieczyszczenie wody pochodzącej z akwariów domowych oraz sklepów zoologicznych ponad 15 różnymi serowarami Salmonella (16). Salmonella w środowisku wodnym, mimo ograniczonego dostępu składników odżywczych jest w stanie przetrwać kilka miesięcy od zanieczyszczenia w zależności od panujących warunków (5,54).…”