Survey on the captive turtles roles as reservior of Yersinia ruckeri and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium

Background and Aim : Captive and wild-caught reptiles, more often present in domestic environment as pets, may harbor and excrete a large variety of zoonotic pathogens. Among them, Salmonella spp. is the most well-known agent and also numerous reports demonstrate that Y. ruckeri has a wide host range and geographical distribution, and can cause both epizootics and zoonosis diseases. Also free-ranging and captive reptiles could be involved in the epidemiology of these infections. Because of turtle's role as concern pet in different regions, the aim of this research was the epidemiologic survey on Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia ruckeri carrier states of turtles in Pardisan wildlife rehabilitation center.Methods : For this aim, one hundred cloacal swabs were collected from studied turtles and sent to Veterinary school microbiology lab of Shahid Chamran university of Ahvaz. Different points such as gender, age, family, species, ratio, and origin were recorded. Cultivation in pre-enrichment and selective media was done and ۳-۵ doubtful colonies were collected from each sample. After DNA extraction of each isolate by boiling, molecular identification of two studied bacteria, was done by PCRResults : Based on results, infection with Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia ruckeri was detected in ۱۵% and ۲۷% of turtles, respectively. Coinfection was demonstrated in ۱۱.۹% of infected turtles. The incidence of Yersinia infection was not significantly related to all of noted items. But incidence of Salmonella infection was significantly related to family, species, ratio, origin of studied turtles. Also incidence of coinfection showed significant relation between family and ratio of turtles.Conclusion : Finally, determination of the presence of infection with proven role of turtle in zoonotic and epizootic disease, are reminder of more attention to illegal entrance of turtles to local markets as a threat for Iran wildlife and aqueous training area for prevention of significant economic losses in the fish farming industry.

کلیدواژه ها:

Salmonella spp. ، Yersinia spp. ، Turtle ، Wildlife