Which disease is a widespread bacterial zoonotic disease of birds, mammals, and reptiles with fecal/oral transmission and commonly found in wild animals?

• A. Campylobacter
• B. Salmonella
• C. E. coli infection
• D. Yersinia pestis

Answer: (B)

Salmonella is a zoonotic bacterium that commonly resides in the guts of birds, mammals, and reptiles and spreads mainly through fecal-oral transmission, such as contact with contaminated water, food, or environments. In the wild and in captivity, many species can carry Salmonella without showing illness, so it’s frequently present in wildlife populations and their habitats. This combination of a broad host range and fecal-oral spread makes Salmonella a classic example of a widespread wildlife-associated zoonosis.

Other options don’t fit as well. Campylobacter also spreads via the fecal-oral route and is common in birds and mammals, but reptiles are more characteristically linked to Salmonella as a reservoir. Yersinia pestis causes plague, which is not primarily fecal-oral and is transmitted mainly by fleas, not by handling or environmental contamination in the same way. E. coli infections refer to a wide group of strains, not a single disease agent with the same broad wildlife reservoir pattern described here.