Study of Zoonotic Pathogens in Alien Population of Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) in the Canary Islands (Spain)

Abstract

Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are native to the Arabian Peninsula that have been introduced as pets in many regions around the world, such as the Canary Islands (Spain). In this work, the gastrointestinal content from veiled chameleons of Gran Canaria island (Canary Islands) has been analyzed to determine the presence of zoonotic bacteria. Forty animals were analyzed using different selective culture media and PCR. The most isolated bacteria were Yersinia enterocolitica (52.4%), followed by Salmonella spp. (40.0%), with positive isolates for Salmonella Tyhpi and Salmonella Typhimurium. Pseudomonas spp. was found in 32.5% of the chameleons. More than half were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus spp. was detected in six animals plus one isolate of non-resistant Staphylococcus hominis. Multiple mycobacteria species belonging to both tuberculous and non-tuberculous complexes were identified as well as Escherichia coli carrying the stx₁ and eae virulence genes with 12.5% and 7.5% prevalence, respectively. Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter spp., and Vibrio spp. were found in lower proportion (<5%). The results obtained indicate that veiled chameleons in Gran Canaria could be playing a role in the maintenance and dissemination of the pathogens detected, harming public health and biodiversity.

Keywords: Canary Islands; Salmonella; Yersinia enterocolitica; veiled chameleons; zoonotic bacteria.

Figure 1

Location where Chamaleo calyptratus were captured (red spot) on Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Images obtained from Google Earth website and modified with Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 software.

Figure 2

m-PCR results for the detection of Pseudomonas spp. and P. aeruginosa in Chamaeleo calyptratus from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Lane 1 to 8: negative samples for Pseudomonas spp., lane 9 and 10: OprI gen amplification fragments characteristic of Pseudomonas spp., Mw: molecular size marker (SiZer-100 DNA Marker, iNtRON Biotechnology), C+: positive control, C−: negative control.

Figure 3

m-PCR results for the detection of Salmonella spp. and its serotypes. C+: S. Enteritidis positive control showing a 204 bp amplification fragment corresponding to Salmonella spp. and a 304 bp fragment corresponding to S. Enteritidis serotype. C−: negative control. Lane 1 to 3: positive samples for Salmonella spp. Lane 4 and 5: negative samples. Mw: molecular size marker (SiZer-100 DNA Marker, iNtRON Biotechnology).

Figure 4

PCR results for the identification of Y. enterocolitica. Mw: molecular size marker (AmpliSize Molecular Ruler, Bio-Rad). Lane 1 to 5: 16s gene (330 bp) amplification fragment characteristic of Y. enterocolitica. C+: positive control (the 425 bp fragment corresponding to the ail gene is only found in pathogenic strains). C−: negative control.