Salmonellae and other enteropathogenic bacteria in the intestines of wall geckos in Nigeria.

The aerobic bacterial flora of the intestine of 150 wall geckos (Hemidactylus brookei) was investigated. A variety of bacteria was recovered including 35 isolates of Salmonella and several other species of Enterobacteriaceae, viz. Shigella sonnei - 2, Edwardsiella tarda - 4, Enterobacter spp - 8, Citrobacter freudii - 3, Serratia marcescens - 3, Proteus spp - 35, Klebsiella pneumoniae - 13, and Escherichia coli - 17, isolates. Eight Salmonella serotypes were identified, the predominant ones being S. hvittingfoss and S. typhimurium. The significance of these findings for the spread of human enteropathogens is discussed.