Salmonella Yeerongpilly in a Chinese Owl (Columba livia domestica) in Jamaica
Suzette Curtello
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Jamaica, West Indies.jam
Angel Alberto Justiz Vaillant *
Department of Para-Clinical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
Helen Asemota
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona campus, Jamaica, West Indies
Monica P. Smikle
Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of West Indies, Jamaica, West Indies.
Patrick Eberechi Akpaka
Department of Para-Clinical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Salmonella infection in bird species in Jamaica was studied. This revealed that very low prevalence of salmonellosis was found (0.32%). Salmonella Yeerongpilly (newly reported in the country) was isolated from a bird collected at a bird aviary. This study showed that there was the presence of this Salmonella serovar in a Chinese owl (Columba livia domestica) in Jamaica. There were not published reports from Caribbean Islands of the presence of this serovar. Salmonella Yeerongpilly belongs to serogroup E1 and by molecular serotyping random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting belongs to A20, B17 and C21. This strain was isolated in Queensland Australia in the 1960s before the successful Salmonella eradication campaign. This study suggests that a larger investigation in pet birds as Salmonella carriers should be carried out in Jamaica. Mandatory screening or quarantine of birds entering the country should be institutionalized.
Keywords: Free-flying birds, exotic birds, Salmonella Yeerongpilly, Jamaica, epidemiology, salmonellosis