[Salmonellosis in an infant as a result of indirect contact with reptiles].

Abstract

Reported is a case of enteritis caused by Salmonella Oranienburg in an approximately one-month-old infant due to indirect contact with reptiles. An epidemiological investigation included tests of faeces of bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) kept in the patient's household that revealed Salmonella Oranienburg. The comparison of Salmonella isolates obtained from the infant's stools and the reptiles' faeces using macrorestriction analysis showed 100% similarity, confirming that the reptiles were the source of the infection. The transfer of Salmonella was probably indirect through the other family members. The detection of rare Salmonella serotypes should -lead to inclusion of less common sources of infection such as reptiles into epidemiological investigations.