title: Salmonella serotypes in reptiles and humans, French Guiana.
abstract: In French Guiana, a French overseas territory located in the South American northern coast, nearly 50% of Salmonella serotypes isolated from human infections belong to serotypes rarely encountered in metropolitan France. A reptilian source of contamination has been investigated. Between April and June 2011, in the area around Cayenne, 151 reptiles were collected: 38 lizards, 37 snakes, 32 turtles, 23 green iguanas and 21 caimans. Cloacal swab samples were collected and cultured. Isolated Salmonella strains were identified biochemically and serotyped. The overall carriage frequency of carriage was 23.2% (95% confidence interval: 16.7-30.4) with 23 serotyped strains. The frequency of Salmonella carriage was significantly higher for wild reptiles. Near two-thirds of the Salmonella serotypes isolated from reptiles were also isolated from patients in French Guiana. Our results highlight the risk associated with the handling and consumption of reptiles and their role in the spread of Salmonella in the environment.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Épidémiologie, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, 23 Avenue Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana. Electronic address: gnoellie@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Noellie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité des Bactéries Pathogènes Entériques, Centre National de Référence des Salmonella, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France. Electronic address: slehello@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Hello
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité des Bactéries Pathogènes Entériques, Centre National de Référence des Salmonella, 28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France. Electronic address: fxweill@pasteur.fr.
authors.forename: François-Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Interactions Virus-Hôtes, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, 23 Avenue Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana. Electronic address: bdethoisy@pasteur-cayenne.fr.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Thoisy
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Épidémiologie, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, 23 Avenue Pasteur, BP 6010, 97306 Cayenne Cedex, French Guiana. Electronic address: franckdesp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005616:French Guiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012104:Reptiles / Q000382:microbiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012703:Serotyping
keywords: French Guiana; Humans; Reptiles; Salmonella; Serotypes; Zoonosis