Salmonella Infection in Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis), an Invasive Alien Species on Chichi Island of the Ogasawara Archipelago in Japan

A significant proportion of green anoles (Anolis carolinensis), an invasive species on Chichi Island, Japan, were found to carry Salmonella, with 32.6% of live lizard samples testing positive and 62.5% of carcass samples harboring the pathogen. The dominant serotype was Salmonella Oranienburg, accounting for 94.4% of isolates. While the exact infection pathways remain unclear, the study suggests that these anoles pose a potential public health risk as a source of Salmonella. Additionally, Salmonella was detected in feral goats and public toilets on the island, indicating possible environmental contamination. This research highlights the need to monitor endemic pathogens that may be amplified by invasive alien species in their introduced ranges.

SUMIYAMA, D., IZUMIYA, H., KANAZAWA, T., & MURATA, K. (2014). Salmonella Infection in Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis), an Invasive Alien Species on Chichi Island of the Ogasawara Archipelago in Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 76(3), 461–465. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.13-0217