The herring gull Larus argentatus as a carrier of salmonella

Abstract

The proportion of salmonella carriers among town-nesting herring gulls increased significantly from 2.1% in 1975-6 to 8.4% in 1979. The range of serotypes carried by herring gulls was similar to that causing infection in man, and it is likely that the gulls ingest these serotypes when feeding at untreated sewage outfalls on the coast. This is supported by the proportion of salmonella carriers being higher among first-year birds (9.7%) than among older birds (2.0%), as it is known that higher proportions of immature herring gulls feed on the coast. Herring gulls carrying salmonellas appeared healthy at the time of capture and at a later date it was assumed that they were not themselves infected. However, their habit of congregating in large numbers on reservoirs and rubbish tips and also at resting sites on farmland often far from feeding and roosting areas, multiplies the pollution problem and increases the potential health hazard for both man and farm stock. Herring gulls feed at a variety of sites and fly many miles from food source to food source and from feeding areas to the roost. Thus, even within the same day, there is the possibility of the transfer of salmonellas over a much wider area than previously considered.

The incidence and significance of salmonella carriage by gulls (Larus spp.) in Scotland

“…The two commonest serotypes isolated from gulls were S. virchow and S. typhimurium and these two serotypes were also among the three commonest serotypes reported in human and cattle infections during the same period, although in humans and cattle S. typhimurium is commoner than S. virchow. Similar associations have been reported by others (Fenlon, 1981;Butterfield et al 1983) who suggested that gulls ingested salmonellae whilst feeding on sewage. In a study of the salmonella serotypes found at a sewage-treatment plant and in gulls feeding at the same site it was demonstrated that similar serotypes were present in both types of sample.…”

Birds, Migration and Emerging Zoonoses: West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease, Influenza A and Enteropathogens

“…Numerous bird species (e.g., crows and gulls) are attracted to untreated sewage, garbage dumps, manure, and other sources of enteric pathogens. 47 Not surprisingly, a number of enteropathogens, such as Salmonella spp. (including the highly virulent serovar DT104), Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari have been isolated from intestinal samples of wild birds.…”

Examinations of Young Black-headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) for the Detection of Salmonellae in the Environment

“…Further literary data refer to salmonellae in other species of gulls where the percentage of positive findings differed in dependence on the age of the gulls and type of feed (e. g. Williams et al 1976;Edel et al 1976;Fenlon 1981;Coulson et aI. 1983;Butterfield et al 1983;Monaghan et al 1985;Glunder et al 1991). Bran d et al (1988) studied the causes of mortality of gulls.…”