Salmonella typhimurium in Natrix natrix: detection and identification by culture and multiplex PCR methods

A water snake (Natrix natrix) was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran. It had two subcutaneous masses. Radiographic and ultrasonographic images revealed the presence of two subcutaneous abscesses. The abscesses were removed surgically and specimens were examined by conventional microbial culture and multiplex PCR. Inv-A universal primers were selected for detection of Salmonella at genus level. In order to identify Salmonella tphimurium, specific primers of Rfbj, Fljb and Flic related on genes sequences of O4, H1:i and H2:1,2, respectively, were used. In the positive control for expected size, PCR products were amplified from the fliC, inv-A, fljB and rfbJ genes. According to the results, this study showed antigens can be useful for detecting and identifying Salmonella typhimurium and can be achieved by using specific primers of O4, H1:i and H2:1,2 antigen, because only S. typhimurium has this antigenic structure out of about 2668 Salmonella serovars