OCCURRENCE OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN S NAKES, TORTOISES, LIZARDS AND AMPHIBIA KEPT AS PETS

Listeria (L.) spp. were isolated from fecal samples of 9 (30,0 %) from 30 tortoises, of 4 (12,1 %) from 33 lizards, of 3 (60,0 %) from 5 amp hibia and of 1 (1,3 %) of 76 snakes. All animals were kept as pets. 8 isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes, whereas 4 strains were s erovar 4ab (3 tortoises and 1 amphibia), 3 strains serovar 4b (2 torto ises and 1 snake) and 1 strain serovar 4e (1 amphibia). Further 4 isol ates were identified as L. ivanovii serovar 5 (3 lizards and 1 tortois e), 3 strains as L. innocua serovar 6b (3 tortoises) and 2 strains as L. welshimeri serovar 6a (1 lizard) respectively serovar 6b (1 amphibi a).