Salmonella Enterica Subsp. Enterica in Cattle Egret (Bubulcus Ibis) Chicks From Central Texas: Prevalence, Serotypes, Pathogenicity, and Epizootic Potential

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Cattle Egrets have a worldwide distribution, feed in proximity to cattle and other domestic animals, and often nest in large colonies in urban woodlots. Over a 3-yr period, nestlings from five Cattle Egret colonies from Central Texas, USA, were surveyed for salmonellosis. Prevalence of infection ranged from 29% to 95%. Seventeen Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotypes were isolated, of which the 4,5,12:i-monophasic serotype predominated in cultures of both the digestive tract and pooled spleen and liver. Of 11 4,5,12:i-monophasic isolates phage typed, eight were determinate type 193. The 4,5,12:i-monophasic isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested and were highly invasive in the day-old chick infection model. Microscopic lesions were found in the livers of Cattle Egrets with systemic infections with the 4,5,12:imonophasic serotype, suggesting that infections with this serotype may often be fatal. Twenty-nine serotypes were identified in 179 S. enterica subsp. enterica isolates from horses admitted to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 2 yr following the Cattle Egret study. The 4,5,12:i-monophasic serotype was not isolated from horses, but 12 serotypes were isolated from both horses and Cattle Egrets. The temporal distribution of the horse cases suggested that Cattle Egrets and horses may be exposed to similar sources of Salmonella, but provided no evidence of transmission between these two species. Similar conclusions were drawn when Cattle Egret isolates were compared to isolates from feedlot and dairy cattle from Texas and surrounding states. Given that the Cattle Egret 4,5,12:i-monophasic serotype was highly invasive and other isolates of this serotype have been associated with food poisoning, it is likely that Cattle Egret colonies pose a health risk to humans living near them.

Investigation Into Individual Health and Exposure to Infectious Agents of Platypuses (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus) in Two River Catchments in Northwest Tasmania

“…from wildlife is not uncommon, and prevalences similar to or higher than the 4.661.7% we observed have been reported for a range of avian, reptilian, and mammalian species (Quessy and Messier 1992;Handeland et al 2002;Renter et al 2006;Phalen et al 2010;Scheelings et al 2011). Six of the seven isolates in this study were identified as Salmonella Mississippi (Edwards et al 1943).…”

Supplementary feeding as a source of multiresistantSalmonellain endangered Egyptian vultures

“…Salmonella species are food‐borne zoonotic pathogens of major public health concern, and leading to huge economic costs from animal losses and human illnesses throughout the world (Hilbert, Smulders, Chopra‐Dewasthaly, & Paulsen, ; Majowicz et al., ; Thorns, ; Wray & Wray, ). Wildlife can act as long‐term asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella , but this bacterium can also lead to mortality in weak individuals and cause outbreaks affecting large proportions of populations (Alley et al., ; Hall & Saito, ; Phalen et al., ; Refsum, Vikoren, Handeland, Kapperud, & Holstad, ). Negative effects in affected survivors include prominent and persistent gastroenteritis associated with intestinal inflammation and diarrhoea, infertility, as well as a negative impact on breeding success by effecting embryonic and neonatal mortality (Battisti, Giovanni, Agrimi, & Bozzano, ; Benskin, Wilson, Jones, & Hartley, ; Tizard, ).…”

Assessing the contributions of intraspecific and environmental sources of infection in urban wildlife: Salmonella enterica and white ibis as a case study

“…During the non-breeding season, ibis forage throughout the day in urban parks but roost at night in trees above water, often in wetlands and golf courses [40]. Because ibis have high winter survival, and as Salmonella is only known to cause mortality in nestlings [41,42], we ignore natural and disease-induced mortality and assume a constant flock size, N. We assume no immunity after recovery, such that re-exposure leads to new infection. As Salmonella either colonizes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or results in transitory shedding [36], we divide infected ibis into transiently shedding (I t ) and actively colonized (I a ) hosts, where I t shed for a shorter duration (i.e.…”