Characterization of a Salmonella enterica serotype Pullorum isolated from a lizard co-habitating with poultry

Abstract

Salmonella is one of the most important pathogens associated with gastrointestinal infections in warm-blooded animals. Lizards have been incriminated in the transmission of Salmonellae and other enteric pathogens through contaminated soil, food, or water. In the current study, we characterized a Salmonella isolate, recovered from the small intestine of an Agama agama lizard captured in a poultry pen from Teaching and Research Farm, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The characterization was based on serotyping, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based confirmation of the serotype, multiplex PCR identification of selected beta-lactam genes associated with 3 rd generation cephalosporin resistance and pathogenicity experiment of the isolate in pullet. Our work identified the isolate as Salmonella enterica serotype Pullorum that had apparently lost its fimbriae 1 antigen due to sub-culturing prior to serotyping. The isolate also carried transferable 3 rd generation cephalosporin resistant genes and produced 28% mortalities in 16 weeks old birds during 21days pathogenicity experimentation. This work reveals the potential roles of Agama agama lizards regarding the epidemiology of Salmonella infections and possible involvement in the spread of antibiotic drug resistant pathogens in poultry.