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Characterization of Salmonella isolates from captive lizards
Frank Pasmans1, An Martel, Filip Boyen
1Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. frank.pasmans@ugent.be
Veterinary Microbiology
|September 13, 2005
Summary
Reptile-associated salmonellosis is a growing concern. This study found that Salmonella from captive lizards, especially subspecies I, invades human cells more effectively than human isolates, highlighting potential transmission risks.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Zoonotic Diseases
Background:
- Reptile-associated salmonellosis presents a significant and increasing public health challenge.
- Understanding the characteristics of Salmonella in reptiles is crucial for mitigating human infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Salmonella isolates from captive lizards.
- To compare these saurian isolates with human Salmonella isolates.
- To investigate the virulence potential and genetic makeup of these strains.
Main Methods:
- Salmonella isolation from cloacal and fecal samples of captive lizards.
- Serotyping of isolates to determine subspecies and serotypes.
- Invasion assays using Caco-2 cells to assess cell penetration.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect specific virulence genes (agfA, shdA, spvR, pefA, sopE).
Main Results:
- Salmonella was frequently isolated from captive lizards (75.8% cloacal, 59.5% fecal).
- Saurian Salmonella subspecies I exhibited higher invasion rates in Caco-2 cells compared to other subspecies and human isolates.
- Specific virulence genes showed varied distribution; shdA was prevalent in human and subspecies I saurian isolates, while sopE was found in subspecies IV saurian and some human isolates.
Conclusions:
- Captive lizards harbor diverse Salmonella serotypes, posing a potential zoonotic risk.
- Saurian Salmonella, particularly subspecies I, demonstrates enhanced invasive capabilities relevant to human infections.
- Differences in virulence gene profiles between saurian and human isolates warrant further investigation into transmission dynamics.