Preliminary findings of Salmonella spp. in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) and their environment

Captive reptiles are routinely identified as reservoirs of Salmonella spp. and reports of reptile-associated salmonellosis are increasing. Unfortunate ly, little is known about the epidemiology of Salmonella spp. and green igu anas. We did a limited survey of a green-iguana farm in El Salvador to iden tify sources of Salmonella spp. in green iguanas and their environment. A l imited number of samples for microbiological culture were collected from ig uanas (adult, hatchling, and embryos) and their environment (food, water, s oil, shelter, insects, and wild-caught lizards). Salmonella spp. was isolat ed from the intestine of both adult (3/20) and hatchling iguanas (8/20). Th ere was no evidence of Salmonella spp. in the reproductive tracts of female iguanas (0/10). Salmonella spp. was isolated from the surface of 40% (7/16 ) of the egg surfaces tested. Salmonella spp. was not identified from the e xternalized yolk-sac of the iguana embryos tested. Soil samples from a bree ding pen and a nest were both positive for Salmonella spp. Eight different Salmonella spp. serotypes were identified in this survey. These results sug gest that horizontal transmission of Salmonella spp. is a potential source of exposure to hatchling iguanas at this facility. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.