Prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia and Campylobacter spp. in Feral Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) in Japan

Abstract

To estimate the public and animal health risk that alien species pose, the prevalence of Salmonella, Yersinia, and Campylobacter spp. in feral raccoons (Procyon lotor, n=459) and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata, n=153), which are abundant alien species in Japan, was investigated in urban and suburban areas of Japan. Salmonella enterica was detected from 29 samples [26 raccoons, 5.7%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-3.5%; three masked palm civets, 2.0%, 95% CI 4.2-0%]. Many of the isolates belonged to serovars that are commonly isolated from human gastroenteritis patients (e.g. S. Infantis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Thompson). The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that 26.9 % of the isolates from raccoons were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, whereas none of the isolates from masked palm civets were resistant. Yersinia sp. was detected from 193 samples (177 raccoons, 38.6%, 95% CI 43.0-34.1%; 16 masked palm civets, 10.5%, 95% CI 15.3-5.6%). All virulent Yersinia strains belonged to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, which was isolated from seven (1.5%, 95% CI 2.6-0.4%) raccoons and six (3.9%, 95% CI 7.0-0.8%) masked palm civets. According to the detection of virulence factors, all the Y. pseudotuberculosis isolates belonged to the Far Eastern systemic pathogenicity type. Campylobacter spp. was detected from 17 samples (six raccoons, 1.3%, 95% CI 2.3-0.3%; 11 masked palm civets, 7.2%, 95% CI 11.3-3.1%). Among these, three isolates from raccoons were identified as C. jejuni. These results showed that these pathogens can be transmitted by human activities, other wild animals, and the environment to feral raccoons and masked palm civets, and vice versa. As these animals have omnivorous behaviour and a wide range of habitats, they can play an important role in the transmission of the enteric pathogens.

Salmonellosis detection and evidence of antibiotic resistance in an urban raccoon population in a highly populated area, Costa Rica

“…Previous reports from varying temperate zone urban, rural and natural environments have provided contradictory results as to the prevalence of Salmonella serovars in raccoons (Compton et al, ; Jardine et al, ; Lee et al, ; Rainwater et al, ; Very et al, ). In tropical urban settings, we found S. Hartford to have the highest prevalence followed by S. Typhimurium and S. Bovismorbificans.…”

Potential Pathogens Reported in Species of the Family Viverridae and Their Implications for Human and Animal Health

“…These include Salmonella enterica serovar Glostrup (Falade and Durojaiye, 1976); Klebsiella pneumoniae (Enurah et al, 1988b); and Plesiomonas shigelloides (Bardon, 1999), an Escherichia coli with a broad antibiotic resistance panel from a captive Masked palm civet (Ahmed et al, 2007), and Salmonella enterica enterica (serovars Enteritidis, Nagoya and 4,12:I), Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Campylobacter spp. from peri-urban, free-ranging Masked palm civets (Lee et al, 2011).…”

“…Peri-urban wildlife may also serve as sylvatic reservoirs for zoonotic disease (Weiss and McMichael, 2004), as reported for African civet, believed to contribute to the maintenance and cycling of the mongoose biotype of the rabies virus (Sabeta et al, 2008), and Masked palm civet, considered a maintenance host of the enteric pathogens Salmonella, Campylobacter spp. and Yersinia (Table 2) in Japan (Lee et al, 2011).…”

Animal Reservoirs of Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coli

“…Raccoons have been identified as a reservoir for numerous pathogens, including Salmonella, Leptospira, and Campylobacter species (149)(150)(151); however, there is only one report of STEC being isolated from raccoon feces. This animal had been residing within the hay barn of a dairy farm (152) and thus may be a spillover host.…”