Edna Tereza de Lima

Isolation of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis in Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot (Amazona aestiva)

Abstract Avian salmonellosis is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Salmonella that can cause three distinct diseases in birds: pullorum diseases, fowl typhoid, and paratyphoid infection. Various wildlife species are susceptible to infections by Salmonella, regardless of whether they live in captivity or freely in the wild. The present study verified the presence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in three captive specimens of Amazona aestiva. The study involved a total of 103 birds undergoing rehabilitation to prepare for living in the wild, after having been captured from animal traffickers and delivered to the Centrofauna Project of the Floravida Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This is the first report of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation in A. aestiva that originated from capture associated with animal trafficking; Salmonella was detected during the study by the serologic method of rapid serum agglutination on a plate with bacterial isolate. The antimicrobial profile exam of the isolated samples demonstrated sensitivity to ampicillin, cefaclor, ciprofloxacin, and cloranfenicol. The three samples also presented resistance to more than four antibiotics. The presence of the genes invA and spvC was verified by PCR technique and was associated with virulence and absence of class 1 integron, a gene related to antimicrobial resistance. The commercial antigen for pullorum disease was shown to be a useful tool for rapid detection in the screening of Salmonella of serogroup D1 in Psittaciformes. New studies on Salmonella carriage in birds involved in trafficking must be performed to better understand their participation in the epidemiologic cycle of salmonellosis in humans and other animals.

Study of the presence of Salmonella spp. and gastrointestinal parasites in excreta from ornamental birds from breeders in the city of Umuarama, Paran

Pets have been associated with emotional and physical benefits for their owners, and among these, ornamental birds can bring positive influences on quality of life. On the contrary, they harbor pathogenic micro-organisms of public health importance. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. and intestinal parasites in 52 samples of excreta of passerines and parrots from breeders in the city of Umuarama, Parana. Conventional procedures for isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. were used. Colonies suspected with the genus Salmonella were tested serologically for flagellar H antigen and somatic antigen O. Faecal samples were also subjected to sedimentation and centrifugal flotation with zinc sulfate techniques to identify gastrointestinal parasites. Out of 52 excreta samples examined, 7 samples revealed large number of coccidian oocysts per field, highlighting the need to implement preventive measures to reduce the number of oocysts eliminated in animals. All samples were negative for the presence of Salmonella spp. Despite the lack of positive results for Salmonella spp. in samples of excreta of the birds in this study, control measures should be taken so that they are not a source of risk to human health. Key words: Salmonella, coccidia, passerines, psittacines, zoonosis.