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The incidence and significance of salmonella carriage by gulls (Larus spp.) in Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

R. W. A. Girdwood ,
C. R. Fricker ,
D. Munro ,
C. B. Shedden  and
P. Monaghan
R. W. A. Girdwood
Affiliation:
Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, G 21
C. R. Fricker
Affiliation:
Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, G 21
D. Munro
Affiliation:
Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, G 21
C. B. Shedden
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G 12
P. Monaghan
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G 12
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Summary

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Salmonella carriage in 5888 gulls sampled by cloacal lavage was found to be 7·8%. Marked geographical and seasonal differences in carriage rates were found. These differences appeared to be associated with human population density and seasonal differences in the reported incidence of human salmoncllosis. The maximum duration of salmonella excretion in 17 laboratory-maintained gulls was 4 days and the number of salmonellae excreted was never more than 170 per gram of faeces. On the basis of this study it is suggested that gulls are not important factors in the actiology of human salmonellosis.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 95 , Issue 2 , October 1985 , pp. 229 - 241
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

References

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