Salmonella colonization in commercial pet turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans)

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Abstract
SUMMARY: An epidemiological survey was conducted on two commercial turtle farms in southern Louisiana to determine the reason for an apparent increase in the prevalence ofSalmonellaspp. in turtle hatchlings at the time of pre-export certification examination.Pond water was consistently found to be contaminated (6/36 samples) with eitherSalmonella newport, S. arizonae, orS. poona. Environmental specimens obtained from eggs and turtle hatcheries (204 specimens) failed to yieldSalmonellaspp. A sample comprising 197 hatchlings, derived from a batch previously demonstrated to be contaminated, showed a salmonella prevalence of 12%, withS. arizonaeandS. poonathe only serotypes isolated. Four serotypes ofSalmonellasp. isolated by a certifying laboratory in 1988, and 20 salmonella isolates obtained from hatchling turtles, were all resistant to gentamicin. The emergence of gentamicin resistance inSalmonellaspp. isolated from turtles will reduce the effectiveness of preventive measures in use in Louisiana since 1984.