title: [Detection of Salmonella and Mycobacterium species in seagulls captured in Talcahuano, Chile].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salmonella can be isolated from the feces of seagulls. Therefore these birds can be a vector for dissemination of this pathogen.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the possible role of gulls as vectors of two important human and animal pathogens (My-cobacteria and Salmonella).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty three Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus) and 60 Franklin gulls (Leucophaeus pipixcan) captured off the coast of the seaport of Talcahuano, were analyzed. Using traditional microbiological methods, the presence of Mycobacteria in cloacal swabs and feet lavages, was analyzed in both types of gulls. To detect the presence of Salmonella, feces, fecal and tracheal swabs, and feet lavage were analyzed from Franklin gulls. Feces, feet lavage, intestine, spleen, liver, kidney and lung, were examined in Kelp gulls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All Mycobacteria cultures were negative. Salmonella enterica cultures were positive in 25 % of Kelp gulls and 6.7 % of Franklin gulls. Four serovars were identified by serotyping. Enteritidis and Senfteberg serovars were found in both types of gulls. Anatum and Infantis serovars were found only in Kelp gulls. Feces of gulls captured during the winter had the highest yield of positive cultures (36.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seagulls are an important Salmonella vector in Chile.
authors.affiliation: Campus Chillán, Depamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Universidad de Concepción, Chile. jlopez@udec.cl
authors.forename: Juana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Martín
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Junod
authors.forename: Fredy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riquelme
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: González-Acuña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000382:microbiology*; D002677:Chile; D004199:Disease Vectors; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification*