Isolation of Salmonella spp. from laboratory animals

This study was carried out to detect the incidence of Salmonella spp. in laboratory ani­mals. Recial swabs were collected from 270 mice, 220 guinea pigs, 144 rats and 21 rabbits. Salmonella was isolated from 10 (1.52%) of 655 laboratory animals. Of 7 Salmonella strains isolated from mice, 5 were S. enteritidis and 2 were S. typhimurium. Of 3 Salmonella strains isolated from guinea pigs, 2 were S. enteritidis and one was S. typhimurium. No Salmonella was isolated from rabbits and rats.

It was concluded that laboratory animals should be considered important carries of Salmonella.