Detection of Zoonotic Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella spp. Carrying Virulence Genes in Rural Mus musculus, Golestan Province, North of Iran

Background and aims: Salmonella spp. infect cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals and maycause a worldwide zoonotic disease, salmonellosis, in infected animals. Rodents can be Salmonellacarriers without any signs of salmonellosis. The frequency of salmonella contamination, the presence ofvirulence genes (SpvR and SpvB) and antibiotic resistance pattern of isolated Salmonella were studiedin rural Mus musculus to reveal the possible role of them in Salmonella dissemination in Golestanprovince.Methods: A total of 190 wet rectal swabs of M. musculus were obtained from rural areas of Golestanprovince with different climate conditions. The swabs were cultured and positive samples wereserotyped and their antibiotic resistance patterns were studied. The presence of Salmonella andvirulence genes was analyzed by SpvR and SpvB genes primers, respectively.Results: Salmonella spp. were detected in 15 (7%) of 190 fecal samples by bacterial culture and PCR.S. enteritidis (n=9) and S. typhimurium (n=6) were identified. The highest and lowest frequencies weredetected in humid (13.1%) and arid areas (3.1%), respectively. SpvR and SpvB genes were diagnosedin 10 of 15 (66.6%) isolated Salmonella. The highest resistance of detected Salmonella spp. wasobserved against streptomycin (53%). All the isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol, gentamicinand trimethoprim.Conclusion: The Salmonella contamination in sampled house mice indicates that native people shouldbe made aware of the risk of Salmonella infection and possible ways of salmonella transmission throughrodents. In addition, the application of appropriate therapeutic approaches to prevent the spread ofantibiotic resistant Salmonella is recommended.