Detection of Salmonella in captive snakes by traditional isolation and specific PCR. In: Agrotrópica v. 25 p. 215-222, 2013.

Abstract

The snakes constitute a group of reptiles used in different purposes, as pets, adornment, in the human feeding, skin exploitation and researches. The salmonelosis is an enteric illness of variable severity in humans and animals, with high morbidity and economic impact. The aim of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in captive snakes using the standard microbiological method and variations of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Thirty one fecal samples from snakes maintained in captivity in the Laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology of State University of Santa Cruz and in Serpentarium of the Executive Commission of Cocoa Crop Plan (CEPLAC) in Ilhéus/BA were collected. The samples were analyzed with traditional procedures for the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and molecular method using specific primers ST11 and ST15. Through PCR, using three types of samplings, (i) direct bacterial pool, (ii) enriched pool in peptone water buffered and (iii) amplification of the pure culture, were considered positive 55% in the direct bacterial pool, 65% in the enriched pool in peptone water buffered and 100% in the bacterial pure culture DNA. Using the standard method of isolating 58% were positive, being 39 Salmonella strains isolated.