Salmonella spp in wild birds living around a well-managed Guinea pig farm in the district of Manchay, Lima

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of Salmonella spp in wild birds that live in the surroundings of a well-managed Guinea pig farm. Free-living wild birds were captured (n=185) and eight species were identified: Passer domesticus (63.8%), Volatinia jacarina (16.8%), Troglodytes aedon (2.2%), Pyrocephalus rubinus (1.1%), Molothrus bonariensis (0.5%), Crotophaga sulcirostris (1.1%), Columbina cruziana (12.9%) and Forpus coelestis (1.6%). Samples were taken through cloacal swab. Salmonella spp was isolated in 4.32% (8/185) of the wild birds, but only in Passer domesticus, Volatinia jacarina and Forpus coelestis. Likewise, two enrichment methods were used, obtaining 2.2% (4/185) of samples positive for Salmonella spp with standard enrichment and 3.8% (7/185) with delayed enrichment.