Prevalence of salmonella spp. and thermophilic campylobacter spp. in the small asian mongoose (herpestes javanicus) in barbados, west indies

• Published in: Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine Vol. 45; no. 4; pp. 911 - 914
• Main Authors: Rhynd, Kamara J R, Leighton, Patrick A, Elcock, David A, Whitehall, Pamela J, Rycroft, Andrew, Macgregor, Shaheed K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Zoo Veterinarians 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Campylobacter - classification; Campylobacter - isolation & purification; Campylobacter Infections - epidemiology; Campylobacter Infections - microbiology; Herpestidae; Prevalence; Salmonella - isolation & purification; Salmonella Infections, Animal - epidemiology; Salmonella Infections, Animal - microbiology; West Indies - epidemiology; Barbados; Caribbean; Panama; Kentucky; West Indies
• ISSN: 1042-7260; 1937-2825
• DOI: 10.1638/2012-0250.1

From April to July 2005, rectal swabs were collected from 48 free-ranging small Asian mongooses (Herpestes javanicus) on the east and south coasts of Barbados and analyzed for Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. Salmonella was recovered in 21.12% (7/33) of mongooses at the east-coast site and 26.67% (4/15) at the south-coast site. Four serotypes were isolated: Salmonella enterica serovar Rubislaw, Kentucky, Javiana, and Panama. One east-coast sample of 11 tested for Campylobacter was positive (9.09%). These results indicate that mongooses in Barbados are carriers and shedders of Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. and are a potential wildlife reservoir for these enteropathogens.