Salmonella septicaemia in a beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura taeniura)
Investigation article published in The Veterinary Record
July 6th, 2002
The presence of Salmonella species in the intestines of reptiles has been documented since 1944 (Hinshaw and McNeil 1944). For many years it has been thought that diverse serotypes of salmonella represent part of the normal microbiota of the intestines of reptiles (Chiodini and Sundberg 1981, Dorrestein and others 2000). Nevertheless, it became obvious that besides being mere faecal carrier status or just minor subclinical infections in reptiles, salmonella can also result in severe, often fatal, diseases (Johnson-Delaney 1996), including gastroenteritis and septicaemia (Hinshaw and McNeil 1946, Boever and Williams 1975, Jacobson 1978, Frye 1991). This depends upon the virulence of the serotype, the nature and chronicity of the lesions, and the innate immunity of the reptile host (Hoff and Hoff 1984). In all cases, poor husbandry, maladaptability, stress and malnutrition have been identified as predisposing factors (Gobel and others 1991).
Tellez S., Briones V., Gonzalez S., Garcia-Pena FJ., Altimira J., Vela AI., Blanco MM., Ballesteros C., Fernandez-Garayzabal JF., Dominguez L. and Goyache J..
 | Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Servicio de Identificación y Caracterización Microbiana (ICM). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Laboratorio Central de Veterinaria (LCV). Área de Ganadería. Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (MAGRAMA). |
 | Servicio de Diagnóstico Histopatológico Veterinario (HISTOVET). |
