The incidence and significance of salmonella carriage by gulls (Larus spp.) in Scotland.

Salmonella carriage in 5888 gulls sampled by cloacal lavage was found to be 7.8%. Marked geographical and seasonal differences in carriage rates were found. These differences appeared to be associated with human population density and seasonal differences in the reported incidence of human salmonellosis. The maximum duration of salmonella excretion in 17 laboratory-maintained gulls was 4 days and the number of salmonellae excreted was never more than 170 per gram of faeces. On the basis of this study it is suggested that gulls are not important factors in the aetiology of human salmonellosis.