Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Salmonella spp. isolates from spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca illegally introduced in Italy
Journal Title: Human & Veterinary Medicine - International Journal of the Bioflux Society - Year 2012, Vol 4, Issue 2
Abstract
The prevalence of Salmonella carriage and distribution of serotypes in spur-thighed tortoises, Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 illegally introduced in Italy was studied to assess the risk of disease exposure for humans once these specimens were traded as pets. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were also analyzed to estimate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains. One hundred forty-six cloacal swabs of spur-thighed tortoises were tested by standard bacteriological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests on Salmonella strains isolated were also performed. Ninety-one Salmonella spp. strains were isolated in 74 of 146 turtles examined and a total of 20 different serotypes were found. Out of the 91 isolates, 67 were grouped in the Salmonella enterica subspecies I. Salmonella isolates were susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested. Resistance was most commonly observed against tetracycline (57.1%) followed by ampicillin (33.0%), streptomycin (13.2%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (11.0%). Our findings confirm that wild-caught spur-thighed tortoises can carry different serotypes of Salmonella. Accordingly, strict preventive sanitation measures should be adopted when handling reptiles.
Authors and Affiliations
Cristina Giacopello, Maria Foti, Annamaria Passantino, Vittorio Fisichella, Aurora Aleo, Caterina Mammina
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP87344
- DOI -
- Views 156
- Downloads 0
Multiple malignant tumors – a clinical case
Objective: We present a clinical case of an old woman who suffered at different ages surgical excisions for three different primary malignant tumors. The patient is now 86 years old. She was diagnosed at the age of 35 wi...
Variation of hemodialysis related arterial stiffness in patients with end stage renal disease.
Objective: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Increased arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in end stage ren...
The deficit of executive functions in early stages of Parkinson’s diseas
Objective: Our study evaluates the presence of cognitive impairments in early stages of Parkinson’s disease, focusing in the first place on executive function and attention deficits, which, according to current studies,...
Cardiotoxicity of antineoplasic agents: onset, risk factors and clinical manifestatio
The continuously growing incidence of the neoplasic disease, estimated to be in 2020 the main cause of death in developed countries, has imposed an increasing research to discover new classes of antineoplasic agent...
Pace and sotalol – three case reports of the benefits and potential hazards associated with sotalol administration in sinus node dysfunctio
The sinus node dysfunction is associated with conduction system disease and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter). The only effective treatment for patients with chronic symptoma...