Occurrence of enteropathogenic bacteria in urban pigeons (Columba livia) in Italy

• Published in: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vol. 14; no. 4; p. 251
• Main Authors: Gargiulo, Antonio, Russo, Tamara Pasqualina, Schettini, Rita, Mallardo, Karina, Calabria, Mariarosaria, Menna, Lucia Francesca, Raia, Pasquale, Pagnini, Ugo, Caputo, Vincenzo, Fioretti, Alessandro, Dipineto, Ludovico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Campylobacter Infections - epidemiology; Campylobacter Infections - microbiology; Campylobacter Infections - veterinary; Campylobacter jejuni - genetics; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Columbidae - microbiology; Disease Reservoirs; Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; Escherichia coli O157 - genetics; Escherichia coli O157 - isolation & purification; Italy - epidemiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Prevalence; Salmonella Infections, Animal - epidemiology; Salmonella Infections, Animal - microbiology; Salmonella typhimurium - genetics; Salmonella typhimurium - isolation & purification; Virulence Factors - genetics; Italy
• ISSN: 1557-7759
• DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0943

This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella spp., and related virulence factors (the cdt, stx, and eae genes) in urban pigeons of the coastal area of the Campania region (southern Italy). To achieve this goal, cloacal swab samples from a total of 1800 urban pigeons were collected and subjected to culture methods, PCR, and serotyping. The results of the present study showed a prevalence of 48.3% (870/1800), 7.8% (141/1800), and 0.9% (16/1800), for C. jejuni, E. coli O157, and S. Typhimurium, respectively. All C. jejuni isolates (870/870) carried cdt genes, whereas all E. coli O157 isolates carried stx genes, and 14.9% (21/141) carried the eae gene. These findings clearly show that urban pigeons in the coastal area of the Campania region may constitute an environmental reservoir of these pathogens, thus representing a source of infection for other birds, livestock, and humans.