Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2008 - Volume 136, Issue 03  

Original Papers

Investigation into the seasonal salmonellosis in lactating dairy cattle

T. S. EDRINGTONa1 c1, T. T. ROSSa2, T. R. CALLAWAYa1, C. H. MARTINEZa2, M. E. HUMEa1, K. J. GENOVESEa1, T. L. POOLEa1, R. C. ANDERSONa1 and D. J. NISBETa1

a1 USDA-ARS, Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, College Station, TX, USA

a2 Department Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA

Abstract

Sporadic salmonellosis has been reported in mature lactating dairy cattle in the southwestern United States and is an intriguing problem in that Salmonella can be cultured from faecal samples of these cattle throughout the year. However, it is pathogenic only during late summer/early autumn and in certain years. We sampled apparently healthy (n=10) and diarrhoeic (n=10) cattle during an outbreak on a 2000 head dairy in 2003. The following year, monthly faecal (from the same 30 head), total mixed ration, water, and pen soil samples were collected for Salmonella culture. No serogroup, serotype, genetic, or antimicrobial susceptibility differences were observed in comparison of isolates from healthy and sick cattle. During year 2 of the study, Salmonella was routinely cultured (although highly variable from month to month) from the cattle and the environment, although no outbreak of salmonellosis was observed.

(Accepted April 11 2007)

(Online publication May 17 2007)

Correspondence:

c1 Author for correspondence: Dr T. S. Edrington, USDA-ARS-FFSRU, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845, USA (Email: edrington@ffsru.tamu.edu)

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