Pet Reptiles in Poland as a Potential Source of Transmission of Salmonella

Abstract

Reptiles are considered a potential source of Salmonella transmission to humans. The aim of this research was to determine the incidence of Salmonella in pet reptiles in Poland and to examine Salmonella isolates with regard to their biochemical characteristics, serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, and pathogenic and zoonotic potential. The research material consisted of 67 reptile faeces samples. The taxonomic affiliation of the Salmonella isolates was determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, biochemical analyses, and serotyping; whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis was performed on three isolates whose serotype could not be determined by agglutination. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the Salmonella isolates was determined by the broth dilution method, and in the case of some antimicrobials by the disk diffusion method. The pathogenic and zoonotic potential of the identified serotypes was estimated based on available reports and case studies. The presence of Salmonella was confirmed in 71.6% of faecal samples, with the highest incidence (87.1%) recorded for snakes, followed by lizards (77.8%) and turtles (38.9%). All isolates (n = 51) belonged to the species S. enterica, predominantly to subspecies I (66.7%) and IIIb (25.5%). Among these, 25 serotypes were identified, including 10 that had previously been confirmed to cause reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS). Salmonella isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial substances used except streptomycin, to which 9.8% of the strains showed resistance. None of the strains contained corresponding resistance genes. The study demonstrates that pet reptiles kept in Poland are a significant reservoir of Salmonella and contribute to knowledge of the characteristics of reptilian Salmonella strains. Due to the risk of salmonellosis, contact with these animals requires special hygiene rules.

Surveys on Pet-Reptile-Associated Multi-Drug-Resistant Salmonella spp. in the Timișoara Metropolitan Region—Western Romania

“…worldwide is a commonly known fact. This carrier status of reptiles is reflected in the health hazards that they present for humans, especially children [1,3,5,29]. Despite this, there are no regulations in place when it comes to the implications of reptile pet shops in the spreading of MDR Salmonella strains.…”

“…Particular attention has recently been oriented towards snakes and lizards due to increased interactions between them and humans in domestic environments [1,3,34]. In this sense, it is important to highlight that these reptiles are mainly fed with animal food, representing an important source of Salmonella [15,21,29,35,36]. Previous studies in the United Kingdom reported the important role of commercial feeder rodents in bacterial transmission among reptiles and even their owners [1,37].…”

One Health Approach: Invasive California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) as an Important Source of Antimicrobial Drug-Resistant Salmonella Clones on Gran Canaria Island

“…Similarly to other reports, in this study, Salmonella enterica was the most common species isolated from reptiles [10,36,37]. The four subspecies we isolated (S. enterica enterica [I] (3/15), S. enterica salamae [II] (10/15), S. enterica diarizonae [IIIb] (1/15) and S. enterica houtenae [IV] (1/15)) have also been widely reported in different reptile studies, including snakes, turtles, and lizards [6,10,14,29,32]. In addition, Salmonella enterica enterica has been reported in the Gran Canaria Island as the main species isolated from feral cats, although the identified subspecies do not coincide with those found in the California kingsnake [34].…”

“…Reptiles have been considered carriers of Salmonella spp. worldwide, and their serological variety and antimicrobial resistance have been studied [10,29,31,32]. Therefore, they may pose a danger as a source of dissemination of the bacterium in the environment, as well as an important cause of animal and human infection, especially in at-risk populations [11,29,33].…”

Bacterial Infections in Sea Turtles

“…Salmonella enterica and Salmonella bongori , with their numerous serotypes, are the most important pathogens of this family and frequently associated with infections in ophidians, saurians, and chelonians who may develop disease or serve as asymptomatic carriers [ 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”