Salmonella enterica Infection of Synanthropic Non-native Geckos in Southern Florida

Abstract

Wild geckos are a significant source of human salmonellosis. We swabbed the cloacas of 37 non-native synanthropic geckos (Gekko gecko, n = 16; Phelsuma grandis, n = 21) from southern Florida, USA, and assayed swab DNA extracts using quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the invA gene. Salmonella enterica was detected in both species with a pooled prevalence of 13.5% (5/37; 95% CI 5.3-27.1%), indicating the potential for zoonotic transmission. Implications for human health in the region are discussed.

Keywords: Bacteria; Geckos; Gekko gecko; Non-native species; Phelsuma grandis; Reptiles; Salmonella enterica; Salmonellosis.