Salmonella in Brazilian and imported pet reptiles

ABSTRACT

The presence of salmonellae in fecal sample or cloacal swabs of 97 pet reptiles (15 snakes, 24 lizards and 58 chelonians) was investigated. Thirty seven animals had national origin and 60 were imported. Salmonella spp was detected in 39.1(per cent) of the reptiles, being 62.5(per cent) in lizards, 53.3(per cent) in snakes and 25.8( per cent) in chelonians. Strains belonged to subspecies I 44.7( per cent), II 10.5(per cent), IIIa 5.2(per cent), IIIb 21.0(per cent) and IV 18.5(per cent) of the enterica species, with predominance 55.3(per cent) of subspecies usually found in cold-blooded animals (II to IV). In the subspecies I, the serovars Albany, Enteritidis and Typhimurium predominated. The Trachemys scripta elegans imported turtles corresponded to 93.3(per cent) (14/15) of the salmonellae-positive chelonians. The national iguanas presented a high rate of colonozation 77.7(per cent-7/9). These animals pose a potencial risk to the human health, demanding sanitary control and more information to the public.