A study of isolation procedures for multiple infections of Salmonella and Arizona in a wild marsupial, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus)

Abstract

Rectal swabs and faeces were used in the regular sampling for salmonellas and Arizonas from a heavily‐infected population of a marsupial, the quokka (Setonix brachyurus). The media used were strontium selenite A and strontium chloride B enrichment broths, with subculture onto modified bismuth sulphite agar and deoxycholate citrate agar. A study of sampling, enrichment, sub‐culture and colony selection procedures produced an optimal scheme giving high yields but consistent with reasonable economy of time and materials. A three‐swab sample was taken and inoculated into the two enrichment media, and with each enrichment subjected to three subcultures. The absolute efficiency of this procedure w..