Salmonella Surveillance Among Great-Tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) and Other Urban Bird Species in Eastern Texas

Abstract

Wild birds may play an important role in maintaining and transmitting Salmonella. Their ability to travel large distances and their proximity to human habitations could make them a vehicle for bridging Salmonella from wild and domestic animals to humans. To determine the potential public health risk presented by urban birds, we investigated the prevalence of Salmonella among great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) and other cohabiting urban bird species. Fecal samples were collected from 114 birds communally roosting in parking lots of retail locations in Brazos County, Texas, from February through July of 2015. Great-tailed grackles and European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were the predominant species sampled. Standard bacteriologic culture methods were used to isolate Salmonella from samples, and isolates were characterized by serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Overall, 1.8% (2/114) of samples were confirmed positive for Salmonella. Both positive birds were great-tailed grackles sampled in June, yielding a 2.6% (2/76) apparent prevalence among this species. Isolates were serotyped as Salmonella Typhimurium and found to be pan-susceptible based on the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) panel of antimicrobial agents. The occurrence of Salmonella in great-tailed grackles represents a potential threat to public health, particularly considering their population size and tendency to congregate near human establishments such as grocery stores.

Importance of Wild Species Kept in Captivity as Reservoirs of Salmonella Serotypes for Human in Petting Exhibitions and Zoo in Iran with Focus on Antimicrobial Resistance

“…This data suggest the high importance of this serotype in animals mortality kept in captivity in Semnan, especially birds. Furthermore, the serovar Typhimurium has been the most common reported serotype distinguished in other non-human hosts, underscoring the wide host range and complex ecology of this serotype (23). This fact can explain better the prevalence of Typhimurium serovar in exotic species other than birds in the Semnan zoo and pet shops.…”

“…(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Although infection of humans with salmonella serovars in zoos is not common, there is some published data demonstrating the outbreaks of non-typhoid Salmonellosis in zoo visitors.…”

Prevalence of Salmonella among waterfowl along the Texas Gulf coast

“…Culture methods from Grigar et al. () were used to isolate Salmonella from samples. Presumptive Salmonella isolates were confirmed by amplification and detection of the invA gene using PCR as previously described (Kim et al., ).…”

“…Confirmed Salmonella isolates were sent to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital for serotyping using the xMAP® Salmonella Serotyping Assay (Luminex, Austin, TX), as described in Grigar et al. (). Anti‐microbial susceptibility of confirmed Salmonella isolates was determined by use of the broth microdilution method.…”

“…Swabs were transported on ice to the research laboratory within 10 hr of collection and were then incubated for 18-24 hr at 37°C. Culture methods from Grigar et al (2016) were used to isolate Salmonella from samples. Presumptive Salmonella isolates were confirmed by amplification and detection of the invA gene using PCR as previously described (Kim et al, 2007).…”