Tae Jong Kim

The rate of Salmonella spp. infection in zoo animals at Seoul Grand Park, Korea

Salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease that affects both people and animals. The incidence of reptile-associated salmonellosis has increased in Western countries due to the increasing popularity of reptiles as pets. In Korea, where reptiles are not popular as pets, many zoos offer programs in which people have contact with animals, including reptiles. So, we determined the rate of Salmonella spp. infection in animals by taking anal swabs from 294 animals at Seoul Grand Park. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 14 of 46 reptiles (30.4%), 1 of 15 birds (6.7%) and 2 of 233 mammals (0.9%). These findings indicate that vigilance is required for determining the presence of zoonotic pathogen infections in zoo animals and contamination of animal facilities to prevent human infection with zoonotic diseases from zoo facilities and animal exhibitions. In addition, prevention of human infection requires proper education about personal hygiene.

Prevalence and relative risk of canine dirofilariosis among dogs in Seoul, South Korea.

ers 2001). The causative agent, Dirofilaria immitis, has been reported in human beings in many countries. The infection is usually asymptomatic and microfilaria are not produced (Zaman and Keong 1995, Cancrini and others 2000, Skidmore and others 2000). There have been few reports of canine dirofilariosis in Korea, suggesting that it is relatively rare. However, it is of increasing importance as an imported disease and the intermediate hosts of the parasite, mosquitoes belonging to the