Salmonella sp. in game (Sus scrofa and Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of Salmonella sp.-induced diseases is a matter of increasing concern to public health. However, to date, reports on the occurrence of Salmonella sp. in game hunted for human consumption are very limited. The current study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella sp. in fecal samples of wild boars and wild rabbits hunted in Northern Portugal. The results show that 22% of the (17/77) wild boar and 48% (38/80) of the wild rabbit presented Salmonella sp. in their feces. Two serovars were identified from samples of wild boars: Salmonella Typhimurium (65%) and Salmonella Rissen (35%). Five serovars were identified from wild rabbit samples: Salmonella Rissen (29%), Salmonella Enteritidis (26%), Salmonella Havana (24%), Salmonella Typhimurium (16%), and Salmonella Derby (5%). These results confirm the importance of wild boar and wild rabbit as carriers of pathogenic Salmonella serovars. Hence, they could represent sources of infection not only for animals (wild and domestic) but also for humans.