30.10.2016

Veterinary Microbiology 195 (2016) 101–103

Researchers at the University of Ghent have isolated Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4), an important human pathogen, from a population of feral pigeons in Brussels.
Salmonella enterica infections in pigeons are generally associated with pigeon-adapted strains of serovar Typhimurium that are of little public health concern. A high prevalence of 33% of Salmonella Enteritidis in Brussels combined with dense pigeonpopulations suggest that feral pigeons may constitute a significant, but unrevealed reservoir forcontracting salmonellosis in the urban environment.