The first report of Salmonella isolation from the feces of a leopard in Iran

Background: The Persian leopard is widely distributed across Iran, and its habitats overlap with humans and domestic animals. Salmonella spp. is an important pathogen in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and various wildlife species. Transmission occurs through fecal shedding. There is a lack of data about the prevalence of Salmonella in leopards. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial composition and antibiotic susceptibility of leopard feces, with emphasis on identifying Salmonella. Methods: The leopard fecal sample was cultured on blood and MacConkey agar. An antibiotic susceptibility test was also conducted using standard antibiotic discs, including streptomycin, penicillin, gentamicin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, azithromycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and vancomycin. For Salmonella detection, ۱ gram of the fecal sample was inoculated into peptone water. The bacteria were then inoculated into Rappaport-Vassiliadis. A streak culture was prepared on MacConkey, Salmonella-Shigella agar, Triple Sugar Iron Agar and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate. Results: A mixture of colonies was observed, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, and the colonies suspected to be Salmonella. The isolate showed sensitivity to gentamicin (۱۵ mm), while it was resistant to streptomycin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, azithromycin, erythromycin, lincomycin, and vancomycin (<۱۰ mm). On MacConkey agar, lactose-negative colonies appeared. Colonies on SS agar were H₂S+. TSI showed K/A H۲S+ and on XLD, red colonies with black centers appeared which suggested the presence of Salmonella spp. Conclusion: The present study showed a variety of bacteria in fecal samples. Escherichia coli is part of intestinal microflora, though Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can contribute to wild animals diseases. The isolated bacteria showed resistance to most of the antibiotics which highlighted the importance of microbial monitoring in wildlife. This study is the first report of Salmonella detection in a leopard in Iran which demonstrates the risk of spreading these bacteria to other animals and humans. Further research is needed for the evaluation of antibiotic resistance and the prevalence of Salmonella in wild animals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Antibiotic Resistance ، Leopard ، Salmonella ، Wildlife Diseases ، Zoonoses