1887
Surveillance and outbreak report Open Access
Like 0

Abstract

While the contribution of the main food-related sources to human salmonellosis is well documented, knowledge on the contribution of reptiles is limited. We quantified and examined trends in reptile-associated salmonellosis in the Netherlands during a 30-year period, from 1985 to 2014. Using source attribution analysis, we estimated that 2% (95% confidence interval: 1.3–2.8) of all sporadic/domestic human salmonellosis cases reported in the Netherlands during the study period (n = 63,718) originated from reptiles. The estimated annual fraction of reptile-associated salmonellosis cases ranged from a minimum of 0.3% (corresponding to 11 cases) in 1988 to a maximum of 9.3% (93 cases) in 2013. There was a significant increasing trend in reptile-associated salmonellosis cases (+ 19% annually) and a shift towards adulthood in the age groups at highest risk, while the proportion of reptile-associated salmonellosis cases among those up to four years-old decreased by 4% annually and the proportion of cases aged 45 to 74 years increased by 20% annually. We hypothesise that these findings may be the effect of the increased number and variety of reptiles that are kept as pets, calling for further attention to the issue of safe reptile–human interaction and for reinforced hygiene recommendations for reptile owners.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.34.30324
2016-08-25
2024-03-28
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.34.30324
Loading
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/eurosurveillance/21/34/eurosurv-21-34-2.html?itemId=/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.34.30324&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Geue L, Löschner U. Salmonella enterica in reptiles of German and Austrian origin. Vet Microbiol. 2002;84(1-2):79-91.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(01)00437-0  PMID: 11731161 
  2. Mermin J, Hutwagner L, Vugia D, Shallow S, Daily P, Bender J, et al. Reptiles, amphibians, and human Salmonella infection: a population-based, case-control study. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;38(s3) Suppl 3;S253-61.  https://doi.org/10.1086/381594  PMID: 15095197 
  3. Bertrand S, Rimhanen-Finne R, Weill FX, Rabsch W, Thornton L, Perevoscikovs J, et al. Salmonella infections associated with reptiles: the current situation in Europe. Euro Surveill. 2008;13(24):18902. PMID: 18761944 
  4. Mughini-Gras L, Smid J, Enserink R, Franz E, Schouls L, Heck M, et al. Tracing the sources of human salmonellosis: a multi-model comparison of phenotyping and genotyping methods. Infect Genet Evol. 2014;28:251-60.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2014.10.003  PMID: 25315490 
  5. Mughini-Gras L, Enserink R, Friesema I, Heck M, van Duynhoven Y, van Pelt W. Risk factors for human salmonellosis originating from pigs, cattle, broiler chickens and egg laying hens: a combined case-control and source attribution analysis. PLoS One. 2014;9(2):e87933.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087933  PMID: 24503703 
  6. Mughini-Gras L, Barrucci F, Smid JH, Graziani C, Luzzi I, Ricci A, et al. Attribution of human Salmonella infections to animal and food sources in Italy (2002-2010): adaptations of the Dutch and modified Hald source attribution models. Epidemiol Infect. 2014;142(5):1070-82.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268813001829  PMID: 23920400 
  7. DE Knegt LV, Pires SM, Hald T. Attributing foodborne salmonellosis in humans to animal reservoirs in the European Union using a multi-country stochastic model. Epidemiol Infect. 2015;143(6):1175-86.  https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268814001903  PMID: 25083551 
  8. Mughini-Gras L, van Pelt W. Salmonella source attribution based on microbial subtyping: does including data on food consumption matter? Int J Food Microbiol. 2014;191:109-15.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2014.09.010  PMID: 25261828 
  9. van Pelt W, de Wit MA, Wannet WJ, Ligtvoet EJ, Widdowson MA, van Duynhoven YT. Laboratory surveillance of bacterial gastroenteric pathogens in The Netherlands, 1991-2001. Epidemiol Infect. 2003;130(3):431-41. PMID: 12825727 
  10. van Duijkeren E, Wannet WJ, Houwers DJ, van Pelt W. Serotype and phage type distribution of salmonella strains isolated from humans, cattle, pigs, and chickens in the Netherlands from 1984 to 2001. J Clin Microbiol. 2002;40(11):3980-5.  https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.40.11.3980-3985.2002  PMID: 12409362 
  11. Wild Pets in the European Union. Horsham: ENDCAP; 2012. Available from: http://endcap.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Report-Wild-Pets-in-the-European-Union.pdf
  12. Cohen ML, Potter M, Pollard R, Feldman RA. Turtle-associated salmonellosis in the United States. Effect of Public Health Action, 1970 to 1976. JAMA. 1980;243(12):1247-9.  https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1980.03300380027016  PMID: 7359680 
  13. Schaper A, de Haro L, Desel H, Ebbecke M, Langer C. Rattlesnake bites in Europe--experiences from southeastern France and northern Germany. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2004;42(5):635-41.  https://doi.org/10.1081/CLT-200026962  PMID: 15462156 
  14. Warwick C, Steedman C. Injuries, envenomations and stings from exotic pets. J R Soc Med. 2012;105(7):296-9.  https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2012.110295  PMID: 22843648 
  15. de Jong B, Andersson Y, Ekdahl K. Effect of regulation and education on reptile-associated salmonellosis. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11(3):398-403.  https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1103.040694  PMID: 15757554 
  16. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Biological hazards reports. National zoonoses country reports. c2004-14. Parma: EFSA. [Acccessed: 29 Feb 2016]. Available from: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/zoonosesscdocs/zoonosescomsumrep
  17. Bouwknegt M, Dam-Deisz W, Wannet WJB, van Pelt W, Visser G, van de Giessen AW. Surveillance of zoonotic bacteria in farm animals in The Netherlands - Results from January 1998 until December 2002. Bilthoven, The Netherlands: Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM). 2004. Available from: http://rivm.openrepository.com/rivm/bitstream/10029/8900/1/330050001.pdf
  18. Feiten and cijfers - Gezelschapsdierensector 2011. [Facts and figures - Fodder Industry]. Den Haag: Hogeschool HAS Den Bosch, 2012. Dutch. Available from: https://issuu.com/hasdenboschinternational/docs/feiten___cijfers_van_de_gezelschapsdierensector_20
  19. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). c1984-14. CITES trade database. Geneva: CITES. [Accessed: 29 Feb 2016]. Available from: http://trade.cites.org/
  20. Friesema IH, van Gageldonk-Lafeber AB, van Pelt W. Extension of traditional infectious disease surveillance with a repeated population survey. Eur J Public Health. 2015;25(1):130-4.  https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/cku122  PMID: 25085476 
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.34.30324
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Submit comment
Close
Comment moderation successfully completed
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error