Isolation and Characterization of Salmonella spp. in Sheltered Wild Birds in Taiwan

Salmonella are important zoonotic pathogens manifest mostly gastro-enteritis in humans and many animal species. This study investigated the presence of Salmonella in wild birds that were rescued and admitted to the Wildlife First Aid Station of the Endemic Species Research Institute from March 2011 to February 2012 in Taiwan. Fecal samples from the wild birds were collected and cultivated for Salmonella. Salmonella isolates were further subjected to serotype, antimicrobial resistance, and DNA fingerprint analyses. Of the 237 fecal samples, 23 (9.7%) were positive for Salmonella using the method described in ISO 6579. Twenty-four Salmonella isolates were collected as two isolates were simultaneously obtained from one Accipiter trivirgatus. Salmonella Albany at 54.2% was the most isolated serotype, followed by S. Newport (12.5%) and S. Montevideo (8.3%). Other identified serotypes included S. Schwarzengrund, Weltevreden, and Itami. Multiple-drug resistance was detected in 62.5% of the isolates; meanwhile, only 20.8% of the isolates were susceptible to five classes of all tested antibiotics. The DNA fingerprints derived from pulse-field gel electrophoresis revealed a high level of similarity among S. Albany isolates. This is the first study to report the isolation and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in sheltered wild birds in Taiwan