Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in pet reptiles in Japan.
From November 2000 to July 2002, 112 fecal samples from pet reptiles, including 18 turtles, 71 lizards and 23 snakes, sold at a pet shop were examined for the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in Japan. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 83 (74.1%) of 112 samples, and a total of 112 Salmonella isolates were identified as subspecies I to IV. The majority of isolates (62.5%) belonged to subspecies I and 54 isolates could be identified as any of 28 serovars. The predominant serovars were found to be S. Bardo, S. Newport and S. Panama, which cause human salmonellosis. These results indicate that pet reptiles may be a potential infectious source of human salmonellosis in Japan.
Nakadai
Aya
A
Division of Animal Life Science, Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan.
Kuroki
Toshiro
T
Kato
Yukio
Y
Suzuki
Rieko
R
Yamai
Shiro
S
Yaginuma
Chiharu
C
Shiotani
Ryo
R
Yamanouchi
Akira
A
Hayashidani
Hideki
H
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012104:Reptiles / Q000382:microbiology*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology*