Salmonella serovar distribution in cobras (Naja kaouthia), snake-food species, and farm workers at Queen Saovabha Snake Park, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the prevalence and serovar distribution of Salmonella isolates in cobras and their environment at a snake park. A total of 166 fecal or intestinal samples were examined, comprising 39 samples from captive cobras ( Naja kaouthia), 70 from recently wild-caught cobras, 19 from wild-caught cobras that had been kept on the farm for over 3 months, 18 from mice ( Mus musculus), 12 from frogs ( Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), and 8 from farm workers. Specific serological identification was performed, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was utilized for DNA analysis. Out of all snakes ( n = 128), 20 of the 30 animals used for snake food and 3 of the 8 samples from personnel were positive for Salmonella spp. There were 228 Salmonella isolates, with a total of 29 serovars from subspecies I and IIIb, composed of 24 serovars from cobras and 5 from the other sources. Salmonella Amsterdam was predominant in captive-born and captive cobras, followed by S. Poona and S. Bareilly, respectively ( P < 0.05). Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- was the sole serovar detected from the mice, while 3 serovars including Ramatgan, I 4,[5],12:e,h:-, and rough strain were detected only from frogs ( P < 0.001). Salmonella Derby was only detected in workers. On the basis of the PFGE results, evidence of movement of isolates between human beings and snakes, and between snakes and frogs, was found for S. Poona and S. Wandsworth, respectively. The study suggests that Salmonella spp. act as true residents in the intestinal tract of cobras with high risk of environmental contamination through fecal shedding.