Molecular Characterization of Salmonella spp. Isolates from Wild Colombian Babilla (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) Isolated In Situ

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Salmonella spp. is a major foodborne pathogen responsible for salmonellosis in animals and humans. The gastrointestinal tracts of reptiles and amphibians have been described as a source of Salmonella transmission, and the main outbreaks that have been reported occurred after contact with infected animals as pets or after the ingestion of their meat. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of 24 virulence genes and characterize the genotypic antibiotic resistance profile in Salmonella strains isolated from Caiman crocodilus fuscus obtained in situ (natural habitat) in Prado, Tolima, (Colombia) in a previous study. Fifteen Salmonella strains were obtained from Caiman crocodilus fuscus, where all the strains have 3 out of 26 resistances genes and 19 out of 24 virulence genes. The results indicate that Colombian babilla (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) may have a role as a carrier of multidrug resistant bacteria. ABSTRACT: Salmonella enterica is a pathogen capable of colonizing various environments, including the intestinal tract of different animals such as mammals, birds, and reptiles, which can act as carriers. S. enterica infection induces different clinical diseases, gastroenteritis being the most common, which in some cases, can evolve to septicemia and meningitis. Reptiles and amphibians have been reported as a reservoir of Salmonella, and transmission of the pathogen to humans has been documented. This study aimed to determine the presence of virulence genes and characterize the genotypic antibiotic resistance profile in Salmonella strains isolated from Caiman crocodilus fuscus obtained in situ (natural habitat) in Prado, Tolima, Colombia in a previous study and stored in a strain bank in our laboratory. Fifteen Salmonella strains were evaluated through endpoint PCR to determine the presence of resistance genes and virulence genes. The genes bla(TEM), strB, and sul1 were detected in all the strains that confer resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole, as well as the virulence genes invA, pefA, prgH, spaN, tolC, sipB, sitC, pagC, msgA, spiA, sopB, sifA, lpfA, csgA, hilA, orgA, iroN, avrA, and sivH, indicating the possible role of babilla (Caiman crocodilus fuscus) as a carrier of multidrug-resistant bacteria.