Isolation and serotyping of Salmonella sp. in ponds with captive Crocodylus intermedius and testudines in Villavicencio ? Colombia

Objective. To determine the presence of Salmonella sp., in aquatic environment of Crocodylus intermedius and testudines at the Estación de Biología Tropical Roberto Franco (EBTRF). Materials and methods. Standard methodology was used to isolate Salmonella sp., from water and sediment samples of 52 ponds (nponds Crocodylus=25; nponds testudines=27). Salmonella, isolates were serotyped by the Kaufmann-White conventional method and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by Kirby Bauer technique. Results. The presence of Salmonella sp., was found in 33% of the ponds checked, of which 29% corresponded to serogroup B. Serogrups C, C1, C2 and D1 were detected in a lower percentage. By means of the antimicrobial susceptibility test, 100% of isolates were sensitive to norfloxacin. Conclusions. The predominant presence of Salmonella sp., at EBTFF ponds, corresponded to serogroup B (33%), including species of widely zoonotic characteristics. According to the results, it is necessary to establish biosafety standards at the Estación de Biología Tropical Roberto Franco to avoid zoonotic problems.