Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore

Snakes are known to be asymptomatic Salmonella carriers that can be a source of infections to humans. Treatment of salmonellosis may become complicated with the rise of the antibiotic resistance among the Salmonella strains. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and its re...

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Main Authors: Ng, Wen Chee, Zakaria, Zunita, Abdullah, Rasedee
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Language:English
Published: 2012
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/1/PROCEEDING%2044.pdf
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author Ng, Wen Chee
Zakaria, Zunita
Abdullah, Rasedee
author_facet Ng, Wen Chee
Zakaria, Zunita
Abdullah, Rasedee
author_sort Ng, Wen Chee
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Snakes are known to be asymptomatic Salmonella carriers that can be a source of infections to humans. Treatment of salmonellosis may become complicated with the rise of the antibiotic resistance among the Salmonella strains. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and its resistance towards antibiotics in snakes at the Singapore Zoo. Cloacal samples were collected from snakes at the zoo and were subjected to isolation and identification of Salmonella sp. and its resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents. Salmonella sp. was present in 20 (65%) of 31 snakes sampled. A total of 9 different serovars were found, and the predominant serovars were S. Mountpleasani (15%) and S. Cerro (15%); followed by S. Rissen (10%), S. Lohbruegge (10%), S. Lansing (5%), S. Hvittingfoss (5%), S. Sachsenwald (5%), S. Pomona (5%) and S. Lindern (5%). Twenty percent were unknown Salmonella serovars. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all serotypes except for one were susceptible to six different antibiotics tested which included enrofloxacin (100%), marbofloxacin (100%), ceftiofur (100%), cephalexin (100%), chloramphenicol (95%) and amoxicillin (95%). The only serotype that was not susceptible to antibiotics was S. Lohbruegge. It was isolated from a corn snake and has an intermediate sensitivity towards chloramphenicol while resistant towards amoxicillin. The study showed snakes are infected with bacteria that could potentially transmit the infection to handlers and visitors. Thus precaution is advised when handling snakes.
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spelling upm-268252016-08-01T03:36:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/ Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore Ng, Wen Chee Zakaria, Zunita Abdullah, Rasedee Snakes are known to be asymptomatic Salmonella carriers that can be a source of infections to humans. Treatment of salmonellosis may become complicated with the rise of the antibiotic resistance among the Salmonella strains. A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella and its resistance towards antibiotics in snakes at the Singapore Zoo. Cloacal samples were collected from snakes at the zoo and were subjected to isolation and identification of Salmonella sp. and its resistance to commonly used antimicrobial agents. Salmonella sp. was present in 20 (65%) of 31 snakes sampled. A total of 9 different serovars were found, and the predominant serovars were S. Mountpleasani (15%) and S. Cerro (15%); followed by S. Rissen (10%), S. Lohbruegge (10%), S. Lansing (5%), S. Hvittingfoss (5%), S. Sachsenwald (5%), S. Pomona (5%) and S. Lindern (5%). Twenty percent were unknown Salmonella serovars. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all serotypes except for one were susceptible to six different antibiotics tested which included enrofloxacin (100%), marbofloxacin (100%), ceftiofur (100%), cephalexin (100%), chloramphenicol (95%) and amoxicillin (95%). The only serotype that was not susceptible to antibiotics was S. Lohbruegge. It was isolated from a corn snake and has an intermediate sensitivity towards chloramphenicol while resistant towards amoxicillin. The study showed snakes are infected with bacteria that could potentially transmit the infection to handlers and visitors. Thus precaution is advised when handling snakes. 2012 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/1/PROCEEDING%2044.pdf Ng, Wen Chee and Zakaria, Zunita and Abdullah, Rasedee (2012) Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore. In: 7th Seminar in Veterinary Sciences, 27 Feb.-2 Mar. 2012, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia. .
spellingShingle Ng, Wen Chee
Zakaria, Zunita
Abdullah, Rasedee
Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title_full Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title_fullStr Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title_short Occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella sp. in snakes in Singapore
title_sort occurrence and antibiotic resistance of salmonella sp. in snakes in singapore
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/26825/1/PROCEEDING%2044.pdf