Tamara Pasqualina Russo

Oral flora of Python regius kept as pets

This study was aimed at evaluating the oral bacterial flora of 60 Python regius kept as pets by culture and biochemical methods. All isolates were also submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion method. The oral cavity of snakes sampled harboured a wide range of Gram‐negative bacteria mainly constituted by Pseudomonas spp., Morganella morganii, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, but also by Salmonella spp. Staphylococcus spp. was the commonest Gram‐positive isolates, and various anaerobic Clostridium species were also found. The most effective antimicrobial agents were enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, followed by doxycycline and gentamicin.

Campylobacter spp. and Birds of Prey

SUMMARY A total of 170 birds of prey admitted to two Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centers of Italy were examined. Birds were divided by diurnal (n  =  15) and nocturnal (n  =  7) species, sampled by cloacal swabs, and examined for Campylobacter spp. by cultural and molecular methods. Campylobacter spp. were isolated in 43 out of the 170 (25.3%) birds of prey examined. Among these, 43/43 (100%) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 10/43 (23.3%) were identified as Campylobacter coli recovered from mixed infections. Diurnal birds of prey showed a significantly higher prevalence value (P  =  0.0006) for Campylobacter spp. than did nocturnal birds of prey. RESUMEN Nota de Investigación—Campylobacter spp. y las aves de presa. Se examinaron un total de 170 aves de presa admitidas en los Centros de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Especies Silvestres en Italia. Las aves fueron divididas en especies diurnas (n  =  15) y nocturnas (n  =  7) que fueron muestreadas por hisopos de cloaca, y estos fueron examinados para Campylobacter spp., mediante métodos de cultivo y moleculares. Se aisló Campylobacter spp. en 43 de las 170 (25.3%) aves de presa examinadas. Entre estos aislamientos, 43/43 (100%) fueron identificados como Campylobacter jejuni y 10/43 (23.3%) fueron identificados como Campylobacter coli recuperado de infecciones mixtas. Las aves de presa diurnas mostraron un valor de prevalencia significativamente mayor (P  =  0.0006) para Campylobacter spp. en comparación con las aves de presa nocturnas.

Survey of Escherichia coli O157 in captive frogs.

To evaluate the presence of Escherichia coli O157, cloacal swabs were collected from 60 adult frogs kept as pets and analyzed by culture methods and multiplex polymerase chain reaction for stx1, stx2, and E. coli attaching and effacing (eae) and hly genes. The pathogen was isolated from two samples and both carried stx2 gene. This is believed to be the first report of natural E. coli O157 infection in living frogs.

Co-infection by Escherichia coli O157 and gastrointestinal strongyles in sheep.

This research investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) strongyles and Escherichia coli O157 in naturally infected sheep, as well as the possible correlation between the pathogens examined. A total of 314 sheep, randomly selected from 21 farms located in southern Italy, were examined. GI strongyles and E. coli O157 were detected by using the FLOTAC double technique and culture media, respectively. GI strongyles were detected on 19/21 farms (90.5%) and E. coli O157 on 12/21 (57.4%). At the animal level, GI strongyles were detected from 193/314 (61.5%) sheep analysed, whereas E. coli O157 was isolated from 20/314 (6.4%) sheep. Statistical analysis performed at animal-level showed a negative correlation between E. coli O157 and GI strongyle EPGs (Spearmans ρ=-0.128; P=0.03). Caution should be exercised in interpreting the research findings because a number of different confounding factors possibly influenced the trend of negative correlation between the two pathogenic agents investigated. Further studies, including molecular diagnostics, production data and multivariable analytical approaches, are needed to assess the actual impact of multiple pathogen infections in grazing sheep and other livestock species.

Survey of co-infection by Salmonella and oxyurids in tortoises

BackgroundSalmonella spp. and oxyurids are among the most prevalent bacterial and parasitic agents in reptiles. These organisms are routinely isolated in healthy tortoises, although heavy infections may cause significant pathology. Tortoises are considered a common source of reptile-associated salmonellosis, an important zoonosis reported worldwide. A survey of the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and oxyurids in 53 tortoises was conducted in southern Italy and a possible correlation between the two pathogens was therefore investigated.ResultsSalmonella spp. and oxyurids were detected with a prevalence of 49.1 and 81.1%, respectively. A significant positive correlation between Salmonella spp. and oxyurids was demonstrated. However, confounding factors related to husbandry could have been involved in determining this correlation.ConclusionsOur results suggest that caution should be exercised in translocation, husbandry, and human contact with tortoises and other exotic pets. Further studies on the epidemiology, molecular characterization and pathogenesis of Salmonella and oxyurids are needed to assess the actual impact of these organisms, as single or associated infections, on tortoises and on other exotic pets.

Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Cytolethal Distending Toxin Genes in Laying Hens

SUMMARY. As no data are available on the prevalence of cytolethal distending toxin (cdt) genes carried by Campylobacter spp. in laying hens, this study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the prevalence of both Campylobacter spp. and cdt genes in 1680 laying hens from four different farms. The samples were analyzed by culture methods and by polymerase chain reaction. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 1097/1680 cloacal swabs. Among the isolates, 913 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni whereas 345 were identified as Campylobacter coli. All isolates carried cdt genes. The results presented here confirm the very common occurrence of C. jejuni and C. coli in laying hens and underline that the cdt genes may also be frequently present in both C. jejuni and C. coli isolates from laying hens.

Microbiological survey of birds of prey pellets.

A microbiological survey of 73 pellets collected from different birds of prey species housed at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of Napoli (southern Italy) was performed. Pellets were analyzed by culture and biochemical methods as well as by serotyping and polymerase chain reaction. We isolated a wide range of bacteria some of them also pathogens for humans (i.e. Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, Campylobacter coli, Escherichia coli O serogroups). This study highlights the potential role of birds of prey as asymptomatic carriers of pathogenic bacteria which could be disseminated in the environment not only through the birds of prey feces but also through their pellets.

Prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria in common quail (Coturnix coturnix)

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e. Campylobacter spp., shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.) in common quail (Coturnix coturnix). To achieve this goal, 70 common quails were collected during the hunting season in the Campania region (southern Italy). From each bird, cloacal swab samples were collected and subjected to culture methods, polymerase chain reaction and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 21.4% and 5.7% for Campylobacter spp. and shigatoxin-producing E. coli, respectively. In contrast, no Salmonella spp. was isolated. These findings show that common quail, as migratory birds, may constitute an environmental carrier of these pathogens representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock and humans.

First report of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis in common swifts (Apus apus).

Forty common swifts (Apus apus), synanthropic birds living in an urban environment closely with humans and other animals, were hospitalized in the public veterinary hospital of the Regional Reference Center of Urban Veterinary Hygiene located in Naples, Campania Region, Italy. Each bird was sampled for bacteriological analyses. Out of 40 common swifts examined, eight were found positive for Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis although no sign of salmonellosis (e.g. diarrhoea) was shown. This is believed to be the first report of Salmonella spp. infection in common swifts. Our results suggest this avian species as a novel potential reservoir for one of most important Salmonella serovars.

Occurrence of enteropathogenic bacteria in birds of prey in Italy

The importance of wild birds as potential vectors of disease has received recent renewed empirical interest, especially regarding human health although information regarding the enteropathogenic bacteria in birds of prey continue to be scant. This study was performed with the aim to evaluate the occurrence of enteropathogenic bacteria (i.e. Campylobacter spp. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.) in birds of prey carcasses in Southern Italy. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 33·1% (49/148) for Campylobacter spp. where all positive isolates (49/49) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni, and among these positive 12/49 were also identified as Campylobacter coli. Thus, 12/49 birds of prey showed mixed infections for both Campylobacter species. Differences in Campylobacter spp. prevalence between diurnal and nocturnal birds were statistically significant (P = 0·016). Escherichia coli showed a prevalence of 6·8% (10/148) and were serogrouped as O26 (n = 3), O55 (n = 2), O145 (n = 5). Salmonella spp. showed a prevalence of 6·8% (10/148) and were serotyped as S. Napoli (n = 4), Salmonella salamae (n = 3) and S. Typhimurium (n = 3). Although wildlife disease outbreaks have often been underreported in the broader context of global epidemiology, results of the present study suggest that birds of prey may serve as a reservoir of pathogens for livestock and human health, acting at the animal‐human‐ecosystem interface.