A Case of Food-Borne Salmonellosis in a Corn Snake (<i>Pantherophis guttatus</i>) after a Feeder Mouse Meal

Abstract

Reptiles are usually asymptomatic carriers of <i>Salmonella</i>, with the manifestation of typical clinical signs of acute forms in adult and non-immunocompromised animals being considered exceptions. In the present case, an adult male corn snake (<i>Pantherophis guttatus</i>) was found dead due to septic shock 48 h after consuming a feeder mouse purchased online. The snake’s tissue samples and faeces were cultured for bacteria isolation. Microbiological examinations of the snake and mouse livers revealed the presence of <i>Salmonella enterica subsp</i>. <i>enterica</i> serovar Midway. A whole-genome analysis of these two isolates showed a high correlation between them: they belonged to the strain type ST-357 for the classic MLST scheme and to the strain type ST 171322 for the cgMLST scheme. Also, a virulence gene analysis revealed the presence of stdB and STM3026 genes. This report conveys a case of food-borne salmonellosis in a pet snake, transmitted from a feeder mouse, likely responsible for the snake’s death due to septic shock. It highlights the relevance of feeder mice as a source of <i>Salmonella</i> infections in snakes and the associated risks to human health.