title: Salmonella serotypes in wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in northern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salmonella species (spp.) are zoonotic enteric bacteria able to infect humans, livestock and wildlife.However, little is known about the prevalence and the presence of the different serovars in wildlife. Considering the wide distribution of wild boars and the feeding behaviour (omnivorous scavengers), wild boars may be a good indicator for environmental presence of Salmonella spp. The aims of this study were to determine the presence of Salmonella spp. in hunted wild boars and to determine the serotype the isolated strains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over three hunting seasons, the intestinal contents of 1,313 boars hunted in northern Italy were sampled and cultured. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 326 boars (24.82%). Thirty different serovars belonging to three different S. enterica spp. were found. Twenty-one serovars of S. enterica subsp. Enterica were found including the human pathogens S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. In addition, nine serovars belonging to S.enterica subsp. diarizonae and S. enterica subsp. houtenae were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the widespread occurrence of wild boars in Europe, the epidemiological role of this species in relation to salmonellosis might be relevant and should be further investigated. Wild boars may act as healthy carriers of a wide range of Salmonella serotypes.
authors.affiliation: Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna [IZSLER], Bruno Ubertini, Via Bianchi 7/9, Brescia 25124, Italy. mario.chiari@izsler.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiari
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagliabue
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavazza
authors.forename: Loris G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Alborali
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*