Detection of Salmonella serovars in zoo and pet reptiles, rabbits, and rodents in Iran by culture and PCR methods

摘要

Diseases caused by Salmonella serovars are well-recognized in humans, livestock, and zoo animals and can result in morbidity, mortality, and significant economic losses. Salmonella serovars have found greater significance due to their ubiquitous distribution, growing number of serovars, wide host range, complex pathogenesis, and complicated epizootiology involving humans, animals, and the environment. The prevalence of Salmonella serovar infection were determined in 64 animals comprising small mammals (rodents, rabbits, squirrels, hamsters, and guinea pigs) and reptiles (turtles and lizards) in Tehran, Iran. Samples were collected by rectal or cloacal swabs from fresh feces or reptile's water source, as well as from the internal organs of dead reptiles. All samples were enriched in broth media then inoculated in the selected medium and streaked for isolation, which were then subjected to biochemical tests using standard procedures. The DNA of isolated Salmonella was extracted and used for identification of invA gene in Salmonella serovars with S141 and S139 primers. Four salmonella serovars were isolated: two from turtle livers, one from a turtle's water source, and one from a rabbit fecal sample. All samples showed the biochemical profile of Salmonella and also invA gene using the polymerase chain reaction method. Rodents and reptiles were found to be potential carriers of pathogenic Salmonella in humans and animals.