Date of Project

4-21-2024

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Biology

Major Advisor

Dr. Carrie Doyle

Second Advisor

Dr. Mary Kroetz

Third Advisor

NA

Abstract

Salmonella contamination and transmission is a concern in public health in the United States and around the world. It is usually transmitted to humans through contaminated poultry products, but it has also been known to be transmitted through contact with reptiles. Because reptiles are becoming more popular as pets and are known carriers for Salmonella, studies have been done to test how prevalent Salmonella is in reptiles. This study focused on testing the feces of twenty-two reptiles for Salmonella, in general, and a specific serotype of Salmonella, S. Enteritidis. This study also compared the positivity rate of reptiles born in the wild versus captive bred reptiles to determine if reptiles being born in captivity is a factor for reptiles being Salmonella carriers in this population.

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