Investigation on some potential zoonotic intestinal pathogens in populations of chelonians in Central Italy

With the rapid increase in the number of chelonians as pets and the resulting phenomenon of abandonment by their owners in public urban areas, studies should be conducted to assess the Public Health importance of intestinal pathogens harboured from such reptiles. Since only scant epidemiological data are available on this topic, the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and the prevalence of Salmonella spp., Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. infections in a private breeding facility of tortoises and in a sanctuary of water turtles and to assess the zoonotic potential of the isolates. Salmonella infection supported by zoonotic species was found in 18 out of 78 animals (23%), with different prevalence among the chelonian populations, whereas no evidence of potential zoonotic intestinal protozoan parasites was detected. Further studies to assess the role of these animals in the transmission of human infections should be carried out.