Emerg Infect DisEmerging Infect. DisEIDEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control and Prevention22172111331121711-110310.3201/eid1712.111103Letters to the EditorSalmonella enterica in Pinnipeds, ChileS. enterica in Pinnipeds, ChileSturmNatalieAbalosPedroFernandezAldaRodriguezGuillermoOviedoPilarArroyoVivianaRetamalPatricioUniversidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile (N. Sturm, P. Abalos, P. Oviedo, V. Arroyo, P. Retamal);Instituto de Salud Pública, Santiago (A. Fernandez);Buin Marino, Santiago (G. Rodriguez)Address for correspondence: Patricio Retamal, Universidad de Chile, Medicina Preventiva Animal, Av Sta Rosa 11735 La Pintana, Santiago 8820808, Chile; email: pretamal@uchile.cl122011171223772378Keywords: pinnipedsmarine mammalsSalmonella entericaChilean coastChilezoonosesbacteriaserotypes

To the Editor: Several wildlife-associated zoonotic agents have played a major role in the emergence of diseases in humans (1). However, diseases can also emerge in wildlife as a result of human activities, such as contamination of the marine environment and its fauna by the disposal of nontreated human sewage. Salmonella enterica is among the agents identified as causing infection in various marine birds and mammals, including pinnipeds, from different geographic regions (24).

The objective of our study was to determine whether S. enterica infection occurs in pinnipeds from the Chilean coast. During August–December 2010, we obtained samples from 13 South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens) that the sanitary authority found malnourished and stranded at the northern Chilean beaches of Antofagasta (23°40′S; 70°24′W) and Los Vilos (31°54′S; 71°30′W) (Table). The pinnipeds showed no clinical signs or symptoms of disease; however, rectal swab samples were obtained during their stay for rehabilitation at the Buin Marino facilities (Santiago, Chile). After the animals recovered, they were released to their original habitat.

Characteristics of South American sea lions (<italic>Otaria flavescens</italic>) tested for infection with <italic>Salmonella</italic> spp., Chilean coast, August–December 2010*
Identification no.SexAge†Source, city in ChileS. enterica serotype isolated
p070810FJuvenileAntofagastaND
p240810FJuvenileLos VilosND
p260810FJuvenileLos VilosND
p090910–1MPupAntofagastaHavana
p090910–2FPupAntofagastaND
p140910MPupAntofagastaNewport
p011210–1FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–2FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–3FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–4FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–5FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–6FPupAntofagastaND
p011210–7FPupAntofagastaND

*ND, no detection.
†Juvenile, animal 1–5 years of age; pup, animal <1 year of age.

The swab samples were placed in Cary-Blair transport medium (COPAN, Murrieta, CA, USA) for shipment to the laboratory (Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, University of Chile, Santiago). To isolate bacteria, we placed the swab samples into 5 mL of buffered peptone water (Difco APT broth; Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), incubated them for 24 h at 42°C with agitation, and then aliquots of the suspension were transferred into the following media: modified semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis basal medium (Oxoid, São Paulo, Brazil) with novobiocin (20 µg/mL), selenite cysteine broth base (Oxoid), and xylose lysine desoxycholate agar (Difco XLD; Becton Dickinson). After the aliquots were incubated at 37°C for 24–48 h, we identified suspected colonies by using biochemical tests and invA gene detection by PCR (5). Results showed that 2 of the 13 animals were infected with S. enterica strains, which were serotyped as S. enterica serotype Newport and S. enterica serotype Havana (Table), according to the Kauffmann-White scheme (6). Testing showed that the strains were susceptible to the following antimicrobial drugs: ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, cefotaxime, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, and cefoxitin (7).

Our results confirm S. enterica infection in pinnipeds from Chile and, more broadly, the South American coast and contrast with previous unsuccessful attempts to detect Salmonella spp. in pinnipeds from Valdivia, 2,200 km to the south (8). This finding suggests geographic variability in the epidemiology of infection; however, this possibility must be confirmed in additional studies with more samples and additional regions.

S. enterica is an endemic bacterium in Chile that causes infection in humans and domestic animals. The Chilean sanitary authority includes S. enterica infection among the list of notifiable diseases, but surveillance is not conducted for S. enterica in wildlife. However, consideration should be given to changing this situation, given a report suggesting S. enterica as a priority for active surveillance (9). In addition, S. enterica serotypes Newport and Havana have been detected in Chile’s human population (10), strengthening the necessity for official support for initiatives addressing the need to elucidate the epidemiology of Salmonella in aquatic animals.

Suggested citation for this article: Sturm N, Abalos P, Fernandez A, Rodriguez G, Oviedo P, Arroyo V, et al. Salmonella enterica in pinnipeds, Chile [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Dec [date cited]. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1712.111103

This work was supported by a grant from the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

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