HUMAN SALMONELLOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH EXOTIC PETS

During the period from 1994 to 1996, an increase in the number of labo ratory-confirmed cases of human salmonellosis associated with exposure to exotic pets including iguanas, pet turtles, sugar gliders, and hed gehogs was observed in Canada, Pet turtle-associated salmonellosis was recognized as a serious public health problem in the 1960s and 1970s, and in February 1975 legislation banning the importation of turtles i nto Canada was enacted by Agriculture Canada, Reptile-associated salmo nellosis is once again being recognized as a resurgent disease. From 1 993 to 1995, there were more than 20,000 laboratory-confirmed human ca ses of salmonellosis in Canada, The major source of Salmonella infecti on is food; however, an estimated 3 to 5% of all cases of salmonellosi s in humans are associated with exposure to exotic pets. Among the iso lates from these patients with salmonellosis, a variety of Salmonella serotypes were also associated with exotic pets and included the follo wing: S. java, S. stanley, S. poona, S. jangwani, S. tilene, S. litchf ield, S. manhattan, S. pomona, S. miami,S. rubislaw, S. marina subsq. IV, and S. wassenaar subsp. IV.