Animal-human interfaces and emerging zoonoses: Salmonella in pet turtles in Concepción, Chile

Salmonella, a globally distributed genus of Enterobacteriaceae, poses a public health risk due to its role in gastrointestinal and systemic infections. Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) are asymptomatic carriers of various Salmonella serovars. The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of Salmonella in different parts of pet turtles and their environment. In total, 179 samples (cloacal, shell swabs, and water) were collected from 72 pet turtles in Concepción, Chile. Using selective media and biochemical tests, 50 presumptive Salmonella isolates were found in 42 turtles, indicating a 58.3% prevalence. Shell swabs had the highest positive prevalence (30.6%), followed by water (28.6%) and cloacal samples (25.0%). The high contamination on shell surfaces suggests a direct fomite route for zoonotic transmission. These findings confirm pet turtles as significant Salmonella reservoirs and highlight the need for One Health strategies integrating veterinary care, public health education, and environmental hygiene to reduce salmonellosis risk.