Salmonella Marina is associated with which animal?

• A. Turtles
• B. Birds
• C. Snakes
• D. Iguanas

Answer: (D)

Salmonella marina is a serovar that has been linked in public health and veterinary literature to reptiles, particularly iguanas. Reptiles commonly harbor Salmonella in their gastrointestinal tracts and can shed it into their environment, making close contact, handling, or sharing habitats with humans a potential route of transmission. Because iguanas are a well-known reptile reservoir for this specific serovar, they’re the best match among the options.

Think of it this way: while many animals can carry various Salmonella serovars, certain serovars are more strongly associated with specific hosts. Here, iguanas are the reptile group most often associated with Salmonella marina, which is why they’re the correct association. Turtles, birds, and snakes can carry Salmonella, but the marina serovar is not as characteristically tied to those animals.