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Overview
There are three major groups of Salmonella: host-specific (primarily
invects on species of animal), host-adapted (can infect several species but are adapted to
live in one), and unadapted serovars with no host preference (1). The foodborne
pathogens we study are in the last two groups.
Salmonella is a bacteria which causes a foodborne diarrheal
illness in humans. Ingestion of between one million and ten million organisms causes
clinical disease in adults. The infectious dose is lower for children, elderly, and
immunocompromised individuals (1).
Symptoms
usually develop within 12 to 14 hours after ingestion and persist for 2-3 days. The
average mortality rate by age group is:
- 0-1 years: 5.8 %
- 1-50 years: 2 %
- over 50: 15 %
Up to 5% of patients continue to excrete infectious organisms after symptoms go away.
These "carriers" can pass the disease around through poor hygeine and
food handling practices (1).
Salmonella species can cause similar symptoms in infected cattle,
especially when those cattle are stressed by overcrowding or extreme temperatures.
Resistance to multiple antibiotics makes some Salmonella species extremely
dangerous (2).
References:
- Jay, J.M. Modern Food Microbiology, Fifth Edition.
New York: Chapman and Hall, 1996.
- Hancock, D., T. Besser, D. Rice, C. Gay, J. Gay. Pre-harvest food
safety interventions on cattle farms.
The association of Feed and Water
with Salmonella and E. coli O157 prevalence in cattle
A study funded by an FDA grant focuses on feed and water as sources
of E. coli O157 and Salmonella infection.
Salmonella DT104 Research Project: Rural America
A grant from the USDA funds research involving Salmonella enterica
serovar typhimurium variant DT104. This bacteria is a serious emerging pathogen for
humans, wildlife, and farmed animal species in rural areas of the Pacific northwest.
Salmonella DT104 is resistant to multiple antibiotics, including those used to
treat human salmonellosis, and is more infective and virulent than other common Salmonella
species. These features may severely affect domestic and international marketing of
the region's farm products.
In addition to cattle, we have isolated DT104 from numerous species including:
horse, goat, emu, cat, dog, elk, mouse, coyote, squirrel, raccoon, chipmunk, pigeon,
starling, pine siskin and flies. We have also isolated DT104 from environmental
samples such as soil and cattle bedding. This indicates the organism has many
potential routes of movement in the farm ecosystem.
This study investigates the movement of DT104 within the farm ecosystem over a 1-year
period of time. We are studying the environmental, farm management, and geospatial
factors associated with the introduction and persistence of this agent.
Study Goal:
Determine the management, environmental, and geospatial factors associated with S.
typhimurium DT104 persistence in a herd and the regional and environmental impact.
This includes longitudinal sampling in case herds and an evaluation of pathways from
movement of S. Typhimurium DT104 within the dairy ecosystem.
About FDIU
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