Salmonella Muenster infection in a dairy herd

The overall purpose of this study was to provide information on animal and occupational health associated with the infection of a diary herd with Salmonella Muenster that would be useful in the management of dairy herds so infected. This retrospective, longitudinal report records a 2-year infection of a 140-cow dairy herd with S. Muenster, which was likely introduced by additions to the herd. Six cows aborted or had diarrhea due to salmonellosis in the last trimester of pregnancy. Additions to the herd and the presence of animals that had not received an Escherichia coli bacterin-toxoid were risk factors for salmonellosis. One neonate died, and 24 of 36 calves born between November 1998 and May 1999 had diarrhea by 1 mo of age. Initially, over 60% of the cows were fecal positive; within 6 months, all cows but I had become infected. The intermittent shedding of the organism and the eventual zero prevalence highlight the inappropriateness of extensive culling as an eradication strategy. Cultures of the bulk-tank milk filters were more sensitive than cultures of the bulk-tank milk samples at detecting S. Muenster. Two months after the index case, S. Muenster was cultured from the milk of 7.8% of the cows. Positive fecal or milk cultures were not associated with impaired health or production. The herd's milk was a zoonotic risk, but contact with infected animals was not. The organism spread easily between operations, likely via manure-contaminated clothing and footwear.     

A three-year study of Salmonella dublin infection in a closed dairy herd

Over a period of three years, Salmonella dublin was isolated occasionally from the faeces of nine adult cattle in a closed dairy herd. The organism was also isolated from 12 of the samples collected after parturition; isolations were made from newborn calves on 11 occasions, from a vaginal swab once and from a milk sample once. Nine of the isolations from the calves were made from swabs obtained within 24 hours of birth. Throughout the investigation isolations were made from heifers, steers and older calves and 11 infected animals were detected. S. dublin was widespread in the farm environment and it was concluded that environmental contamination was an important source of infection for animals of all ages, some of which may have become latent carriers. The family history of one cow, seven of whose offspring were infected with S dublin, suggested the possibility of vertical transmission. Without reliable tests to detect latent carriers, it is suggested that control of this infection must be based on improved hygiene and the use of vaccination to improve the immunity of the herd.     

Salmonella typhimurium DT104 in farmed rabbits

A total of 1,000 rectal samples were collected from rabbits coming from 25 rabbit farms in southern Italy. All samples were processed for isolation of Salmonella spp. by standard culture method based on the ISO 6579:2002 method. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 1/25 rabbit farms analyzed. In particular, four out of 1,000 rectal swab samples, taken from young rabbits, were serotyped as S. Typhimurium and phage typed as S. Typhimurium DT104. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (ACSSuT pentaresistance type). The findings of the present study suggest the rabbit as potential carrier of S. Typhimurium DT104.     

Salmonella Typhimurium persistence in a Hunter Valley dairy herd

OBJECTIVE: An epidemiological study was undertaken at a Hunter Valley dairy with persistent Salmonella Typhimurium infection. The aim of the study was to identify cattle currently or previously infected with Salmonella, possible sources of the organism, patterns of spread, and husbandry practices that could be improved. METHODOLOGY: Faecal samples, feed, water and environmental samples were cultured for Salmonella and blood samples were tested for antibodies against Salmonella (Dublin and Typhimurium). A questionnaire was designed to identify possible risk factors associated with Salmonella excretion. RESULTS: S Typhimurium was apparently introduced from an old to a new dairy through manure spread as fertiliser. Salmonella apparently persisted in the effluent pond, and the following year clinical cases occurred after pasture, irrigated with water from the pond, was grazed by dry cows, and adult cattle became clinically ill with salmonellosis. The disease spread to other cows and calves. Poor design of calf pens assisted spread of Salmonella from sick to healthy calves. In addition, there was suspected transmission to the dairy farmer's 9-month-old daughter. Salmonellosis on a farm is a potential zoonotic risk to farm workers and their families. There is also the risk that cull cows may carry Salmonella to the abattoir and subsequently into the human food chain. Methods of waste management, and the design of calf pens, were identified as major risk factors that could be improved to minimise the spread of salmonellosis on this property.     

Salmonella typhimurium DT104: a virulent and drug-resistant pathogen.

Salmonella typhimurium phage type (PT) or definitive type (DT) 104 is a virulent pathogen for humans and animals, particularly cattle. It has been isolated increasingly from humans and animals in the United Kingdom and several other European countries and, more recently, in the United States and Canada. Humans may acquire the infection from foods of animal origin contaminated with the infective organism. Farm families are particularly at risk of acquiring the infection by contact with infected animals or by drinking unpasteurized milk. The symptoms in cattle are watery to bloody diarrhea, a drop in milk production, pyrexia, anorexia, dehydration and depression. Infection may result in septicemic salmonellosis and, upon necropsy, a fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis may be observed. The infection occurs more commonly in the calving season than at other times. Feedlot cattle and pigs may also be affected. Prolonged carriage and shedding of the pathogen may occur. Symptoms in humans consist of diarrhea, fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and, less frequently, blood in the stool. Salmonella typhimurium DT104 strains are commonly resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline.     

Experimental Salmonella typhimurium infection in calves.

The paper describes the clinical, bacteriological and pathological findings in experimental Salmonella typhimurium infection in calves. Oral doses of 10(8) and 10(9) organisms produced clinical disease and high mortality; doses ranging from 10(4)--10(7) organisms were less consistent in their action. Jersey calves appeared more susceptible to infection than Friesian calves. The clinical signs in most calves were pyrexia and a characteristic diarrhoea that lasted for up to 11 days; more severe symptoms were seen in the calves that received the higher doses. Following infection, all calves excreted S typhimurium in their faeces, the highest counts being observed in the calves that died. In the calves that survived, counts ranging from 10(2)--10(5)/g faeces occurred continuously for up to a maximum of 20 days and subsequent intermittent excretion occurred in a number of calves. In the calves that died, necrotic enteritis in the ileum and large intestine was the most striking lesion; lesions were uncommon in other organs. The findings are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis, diagnosis and control of the disease.     

Salmonella typhimurium DT104 septicaemia with meningitis in neonatal piglets.

Clinical salmonellosis in pigs in the Netherlands usually manifests itself as diarrhoea. In finishing pigs this is sometimes accompanied by peracute mortality, mainly in the last month of the finishing period. This is the first report describing Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 infection of 1-week-old suckling piglets in the Netherlands. The piglets showed nervous symptoms and died. The clinical symptoms, gross pathology, histopathological, bacteriological and phagetyping results are presented as well as the antimicrobial resistance pattern. This case is not only important as an extension of the clinical syndrome of salmonellosis in pigs in the Netherlands, but also because of the risk of human infection after consumption of pork or pork products contaminated with this pathogenic and multiple resistant Salmonella clone.     

Detection and characterization ofSalmonella typhimurium from a dairy herd in North Dakota

Nasal secretions, faecal samples and buffy coats were obtained from 102 cattle from a North Dakota dairy herd with a history of calf scours. Treated buffy coats, faecal samples and nasal secretions were inoculated into tetrathionate broth (TB), incubated at 37°C overnight, and plated onto brilliant green agar medium with novobiocin (BGAN). The TB was left at room temperature for 5 days and then used to inoculate fresh TB. The fresh TB was incubated at 37°C over night and plated onto BGAN medium. All the plates were incubated at 37°C over night and observed forSalmonella-like growth. Suspect colonies were further tested andSalmonella isolates were serotyped by the National Veterinary Services laboratory. Twenty-two of the 36 calves sampled harbouredS. typhimurium in their faeces, but no samples from cows were positive. NoSalmonella were isolated from the buffy coats, but 4 calves were shown to haveSalmonella in their nasal secretions. Extended enrichment of the faecal cultures in TB resulted in a significant increase inSalmonella isolations, although 2 samples were positive following the initial enrichment period and not after secondary enrichment. The typicalSalmonella isolate detected from this herd contained a transmissible R-plasmid encoding resistance to tetracycline, kanamycin, sulphisoxazole and ampicillin. This study confirmed that delayed secondary enrichment in TB is superior to primary enrichment for detection ofSalmonella from cattle.Abbreviations Ap ampicillin - BGAN brilliant green agar with novobiocin - Cm chloramphenicol - DSE delayed secondary enrichment - Gn gentamicin - Kn kanamycin - NA nalidixic acid - NADC National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa - NVSL National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa - PB polymyxin B - PE primary enrichment - Sm streptomycin - Su sulphisoxazole - TB tetrathionate broth - Tc tetracycline - TSI triple sugar iron agar     

Salmonella typhimurium infection in domesticated fowl in a children's zoo.

Salmonella typhimurium infection occurred in a children's zoo where 11 fowl and 85 mammals were kept. Initially, the guinea pigs were infected and transmitted the infection to the fowl and rabbits. These mammals responded to medication and cleared of the infection; however, the birds were judged to contain excreters despite four regimens of treatment with antibiotics. Cloacal swabs were taken from all the birds. One turkey was positive for Salmonella and was destroyed. Pooled fecal samples from the birds were again positive. All the birds were tested serologically, and two birds, a goose and a turkey, were positive with Salmonella pullorum-gallinarum antigen, which was assumed to be a cross reaction with S. typhimurium antigen. The two birds were destroyed and the goose yielded Salmonella. The infection was finally eradicated, and the serologic examination was considered to be the most useful procedure for detection of the excreters.