Reptiles from Guadeloupe: reservoirs of human Salmonella serovars

Reptiles are known to be reservoirs for Salmonella bacteria. The team of the Microbial Ecosystems Interaction Laboratory in collaboration with the Enteric Pathogenic Bacteria Unit of the Institut Pasteur has shown that the epidemiology of salmonella infections in Guadeloupe is particular with serovars rarely isolated in hexagonal France (antigenic property allowing a cell or virus to be identified by serological methods). These serovars, found in reptiles but also in pigs, have a wide host spectrum and the transmission routes probably involve direct or indirect contact with animals. Another serovar isolated specifically from anolis has frequently been found in human cases suggesting a key role of these small lizards in the transmission of salmonella in Guadeloupe. This study is published in PLOS One.

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