Salmonella in free living terrestrial and aquatic turtles

Abstract

Detection of Salmonella in pet turtles has been the focus of extensive research, but its incidence in free living turtles is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Salmonella in terrestrial and aquatic species of chelonians inhabiting a National Park in southwestern Spain. Individuals of the terrestrial tortoise Testudo graeca (n = 16) and the aquatic turtles Emys orbicularis (n = 26) and Mauremys leprosa (n = 50) were investigated. Maximum incidence of Salmonella was recorded in the terrestrial species (100%). In contrast, the incidence of infected animals was low in the aquatic species, 12% in M. leprosa and 15.4% in E. orbicularis. Five serotypes of Salmonella belonging to subspecies enterica (I) and salamae (II) were identified. All serotypes were found in the terrestrial species, and three in the aquatic ones, suggesting that wild terrestrial chelonians are important reservoirs of Salmonella in our study area. Cloacal transmission during mating is the most probable mode of transmission among individuals.

Salmonella in free-living exotic and native turtles and in pet exotic turtles from SW Spain

“…As in free-living turtles, total infection rate of Salmonella in pet turtles was 5.1%, with only two individuals infected (Table 1). These results are similar to the prevalence registered in previous studies in aquatic turtles (Abalem de Sá and Solari, 2001;Hidalgo-Vila et al, 2007). However, high prevalence of the bacteria (>70%) have been reported in terrestrial tortoises (Vincent et al, 1960;Pasmans et al, 2000;Hidalgo-Vila et al, 2007, 2008.…”

“…Chelonians are important carriers of Salmonella (Vincent et al, 1960;Chiodini and Sundberg, 1981;Pasmans et al, 2000;Briones et al, 2004;Hidalgo-Vila et al, 2007, 2008 and reptiles have been frequently reported as responsible for salmonellosis in humans, especially in children (Mermin et al, 1997;Woodward et al, 1997;Warwick et al, 2001;Mermin et al, 2004;Corrente et al, 2006). However, at present, there are no laws in Europe regulating the trade and safe keeping of turtles in captivity.…”

Dissemination of Zoonotic Antibiotic Resistant Serotypes of Salmonella by Caspian Pond Turtles, Golestan and Mazandaran Provinces, Iran

“…15,16 In the study of Hidalgo-Vila et al on free-living Valencian turtles, the prevalence of Salmonella was 11.0 ± 2.3%. 17,18 The detected frequency in our study was higher than that described in other areas, mainly in Italy (24%), 18 Korea (30% including turtles and other reptiles), 19 Spain (5%), 13 and the United States (0%). 20 Therefore, in comparison to other studies, 38.8% of frequency of Salmonella contamination in sampled Caspian pond turtles was related to moderate to high degree Salmonella contamination in turtles' population worldwide.…”

Spatial Variation and Survival of Salmonella enterica Subspecies in a Population of Australian Sleepy Lizards (Tiliqua rugosa)

“…VI). Although S. enterica is better known as a human pathogen, all six subspecies of S. enterica have been isolated from reptiles (16)(17)(18). No evidence suggests pathogenic effects in reptiles, but little is known of their ecology in reptile hosts.…”