Isolation of Salmonella enterica and Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 from Feces of Animals in Public Contact Areas of United States Zoological Parks

Authors

James E. Keen, USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NebraskaFollow
Lisa M. Durso, USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NebraskaFollow
Thomas P. Meehan, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

1-1-2007

Comments

Published in APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Jan. 2007, p. 362–365.

Abstract

The fecal prevalence of subclinical Salmonella enterica and Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 among animals in human-animal contact exhibits at institutions in the United States accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums was estimated to assess public health risk. The prevalence was less than 0.6% for both zoonotic pathogens among 997 animals sampled at 36 exhibits.