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Pet reptiles are gaining popularity among Saudi citizens but owners lack public health-associated awareness. Generally, the pet shops do not properly guide about reptile handling and health precautions. This study features molecular characterization of Salmonellaisolates from pet reptiles to detect potential human pathogenic serovars. Previously identified five Salmonellasp. isolates from pet reptiles in private households were subjected to PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene followed by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Sequencing confirmed all five isolates as Salmonella entericasubsp. entericaserovar Typhimurium. Different strains shared a common ancestor but were divided into different clades in various host species (snakes and lizards). All reptiles could be a potential source of zoonotic Salmonellaspp. and multidrug resistance (MDR) of Salmonellacan further worsen the situation. The feed, confined shared living spaces of multiple animals, environmental conditions, and pets’ interaction with wild animals could enhance the probability of Salmonellaspp. occurrence in pet reptiles. This study necessitates the pet owners’ awareness regarding Salmonellaspp. transmission routes and associated human health repercussions while keeping pet reptiles.

To explore the prevalence of multidrug-resistant community-associated uropathogenic Escherichia coli(UPEC) and their virulence factors in Western Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,000 urine samples were examined for the presence of E. coliby selective plating on MacConkey, CLED, and sheep blood agar. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined using Vitek®2 Compact (MIC) and the disc diffusion method with Mueller-Hinton agar. Genes encoding virulence factors (kpsMTII, traT, sat, csgA, vat, and iutA) were detected by PCR. The overall prevalence of UTI-associated E. coliwas low, and a higher prevalence was detected in samples of female origin. Many of the isolates exhibited resistance to norfloxacin, and 60% of the isolates showed resistance to ampicillin. No resistance to imipenem, meropenem, or ertapenem was detected. In general, half of the isolates showed multiple resistance patterns. UPEC exhibited a weak ability to form biofilms, where no correlation was observed between multidrug resistance and biofilm-forming ability. All uropathogenic E. coliisolates carried the kpsMTII, iutA, traT, and csgAgenes, whereas the low number of the isolates harbored the satand vatgenes. The diversity of virulence factors harbored by community-associated UPEC may render them more virulent and further explain the recurrence/relapse cases among community-associated UITs. To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes the first exploration of virulence, biofilm-forming ability, and its association with multidrug resistance among UPEC isolates in Saudi Arabia. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the epidemiology of community-associated UPEC in Saudi Arabia.

Bird fecal matter is considered a potential source of pathogenic microbes such as yeast species that contaminate the environment. Therefore, it needs to be scrutinized to assess potential environmental health risks. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of the yeasts in pigeon fecal droppings, their antifungal susceptibility patterns, and virulence factors. We used culturing techniques to detect the yeasts in pigeon fecal droppings. The isolates were then characterized based on colony morphologies, microscopic examinations, and biochemical reactions. The molecular identification of all yeast isolates was performed by sequencing of the amplified ITS gene. Genes encoding virulence factors CAP1, CAP59, and PLBwere also detected. Antifungal susceptibility patterns were examined by the disk diffusion method. A total of 46 yeast-like isolates were recovered, and they belonged to nine different genera, namely, Cryptococcus, Saccharomyces, Rhodotorula, Candida, Meyerozyma, Cyberlindnera, Rhodosporidium, Millerozyma, and Lodderomyces. The prevalence of two genera Cryptococcusand Rhodotorulawas high. None of the yeast isolates exhibited any resistance to the antifungal drugs tested; however, all pathogenic Cryptococcusspecies were positive for virulence determinants like urease activity, growth at 37°C, melanin production, the PLBand CAPgenes. This is the first report on the molecular diversity of yeast species, particularly, Cryptococcusspecies and their virulence attributes in pigeon fecal droppings in Saudi Arabia.