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For informational purposes. This should not be necessary, but there ARE those who dispute Koch's postulate with respect to foodborne pathogens in pets...............sigh.
There is some duplication in the two articles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***Feline Salmonellosis*****
Salmonellosis (Zoonotic) Last updated on 10/29/2003. Contributors: Rhea V. Morgan DVM, DACVIM, DACVO
Synonyms: Song bird fever
Disease description: Salmonella are nonspore-forming, gram-negative bacilli. They are motile members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Salmonella infect primarily the gastrointestinal tract, and may affect a wide variety of animals and birds. All serovars are believed to belong to one species, S. enterica. Serovar names usually follow the Salmonella genus name, with “enterica” being deleted. Serovars are identified based on their somatic and flagellar antigens. Common serovars that cause disease in domestic animals include S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. chloeraesiu, and S. arizonae. S. enteridis is further subdivided into more than a thousand bioserotypes, such as S. enteridis dublin. It is common practice to also delete the “enteridis” portion of the name, thereby relying upon the bioserotype portion to identify the bacteria, e.g. S. dublin. 1 The organism most commonly isolated from dogs and cats is S. typhimurium. 2
Salmonella often enter the intestinal tract by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Food, water, food stuffs, chew toys, etc. may be contaminated by the infected fecal material of insects, rodents, birds, or animals. 8 The bacteria may also be acquired from soiled utensils (fomites). Infections in animals are sometimes acquired from in-contact people. 1 In-utero infections may be transmitted to the offspring, resulting in abortion, stillbirths, or ill neonates. 1 The bacteria can survive in the environment for relatively long periods of time.
Most enteric organisms are not able to colonize the gastrointestinal tract (GI) unless there is disruption of the normal protective mechanisms of the intestinal tract, or alteration in the normal bacterial GI flora. Surviving organisms invade the ileum and may spread to lymph nodes, liver, and spleen via the lymphatics and blood vessels. Gastrointestinal signs are caused by invasion of the ileal epithelium and the subsequent inflammatory response. Diarrhea is secretory owing to increased production of adenyl cyclase. Bacteremia or endotoxemia may induce fever, endotoxic shock, and death. Shedding of bacteria may last for 3-6 weeks and may be intermittent. 1
Factors that increase the likelihood of clinical disease from Salmonellosis include ingestion of large numbers of bacteria, age of the animal, poor nutrition, presence of neoplasia and other concurrent diseases, stress, and the administration of antibiotics, chemotherapy, or glucocorticoids. 1
DIAGNOSTICS Hemogram results are variable. Anemia (nonregenerative), lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia with a left shift may be noted. Leukocytosis may occur with chronic infections. Serum chemistry results are often normal, unless clinical signs are severe. Then hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia, and elevated renal function tests may be found. Culture results from the gastrointestinal tract can be difficult to interpret, since many healthy animals may harbor the organism. 4,5,13 Isolation of the organism from other sites in the body is more significant. Negative cultures do not rule out the disease. 1 A fecal PCR assay can detect Salmonella in fecal samples, but is not widely available. 6 Serologic assays are difficult to interpret, are rarely diagnostic, and not often used. 1
Disease description in this species: Salmonella organisms are isolated from 0.8% to 18% of healthy cats. 1,4,5 Cats appear to be more resistant to infection than dogs. 1 Gastroenteritis with anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and salivation is the most common clinical manifestation in cats. Bacteremia, endotoxemia, pneumonia, and infection of other organs may result in more severe, life-threatening signs. 1,3,11 Some cats develop a persistent fever, with weight loss, lethargy, and anemia as complicating signs. 16 Abortion, still births and ill neonates may occur with in utero infections. 1,10
An interesting source of S. typhimurium infection in cats is the ingestion of infected wild songbirds. Cats become ill 2-5 days after eating infected birds and exhibit anorexia, depression, fever, vomiting and diarrhea of 2-7 days duration. This form of salmonellosis has been documented both in Sweden and the Northeastern United States, and has been called “Songbird Fever”. 1,7,8 Although most cats recover within a few days, some cats are ill for up to 3 weeks. 1,7 Approximately 10% of affected cats may die from the disease. 1
Etiology: Salmonella spp.
Clinical findings: Abdominal pain Abortion AFEBRILE ANOREXIA ASCITES Bradycardia Cachexia Collapse COUGHING Dehydration Depression DIARRHEA Diarrhea hemorrhagic Diarrhea mucoid Diarrhea watery DYSPNEA Epistaxis Exercise intolerant or reluctant to move FEVER Hematochezia Hypothermia Icterus Malaise Mental dullness Pale mucous membranes TACHYCARDIA Tachypnea Tenesmus VOMITING WEAKNESS Weight loss Zoonosis, Zoonoses ZZZ INDEX ZZZ
Diagnostic procedures: Diagnostic results: Ocular examination ANEMIA - variable Anemia nonregenerative, nonresponding Leukocytosis Leukopenia Serum chemistry Hypoalbuminemia Hypoproteinemia Radiography of the thorax Pulmonary infiltrate, pneumonia Culture of feces, water, urine, blood, trachea Salmonella isolated and identified Stained fecal smears Leukocytes in feces
Treatment/Management/Prevention: SPECIFIC 1) Unless the animal is systemically ill, antibiotics are withheld because they may produce a carrier state. Amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfa or chloramphenicol have been successfully used in the past, but multiple-drug resistant strains are emerging. 12,14,16 Other antibiotics to consider, especially if sepsis is present, include enrofloxacin, imipenem, and the aminoglycosides:
Enrofloxacin (Baytril): 2.5 mg/kg PO q12h Amoxicillin: 20 mg/kg PO q12h Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin): 25 mg/kg PO, IV q12h. This drug is contraindicated if neutropenia, anemia, or pancytopenia are present. Gentamicin (Gentocin): 5 mg/kg IV, IM, SC q24h Trimethoprim/sulfadiazine: 15 mg/kg PO, SC q12h SUPPORTIVE 1) Nothing should be given by mouth if vomiting or severe diarrhea are present.
2) Fluid therapy is important and indicated for most animals with gastrointestinal signs:
Dehydration should be estimated and deficiency replaced with lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) and dextrose 5% (D5W) or similar solutions. Three quarters of the loss should be replaced immediately and the remainder in 24 hours. Daily maintenance fluid, similar to the above, should also be administered. If hypokalemia is present, potassium is added to the above fluids at the rate of 20 mEq/L. The rate of administration of K+ should be no more than 0.5 mEq/kg/h. 3) Protein supplements in the form of amino acids 5% (20 ml/kg/day) or plasma may be needed if the pet has prolonged gastrointestinal signs.
4) The use of anticholinergic drugs (atropine and derivatives) are not recommended because they tend to promote bacterial overgrowth and are of little value in combating diarrhea induced by salmonellosis.
Preventive Measures: Salmonella are susceptible to many disinfectants, such as the phenolic compounds, and diluted bleach, as well as household detergents. The bacteria can also be killed by most sterilizing techniques. Infection from food stuffs can be decreased by feeding only fully cooked foods and food stored at proper temperatures. 1 Infected animals should be isolated and all areas/equipment cleaned that came into contact with them. Complete eradication within a given animal population is difficult, because some animals may be asymptomatic carriers and shedders of the bacteria. 1,4,5,12,14 Animals recovering from clinical infections may also shed the bacteria for 6 or more weeks. 1 Research to investigate the development of a vaccine for salmonellosis in dogs is underway, but no such work has been published in the cat. 9
Special considerations: Salmonellosis is a both a zoonotic and reverse-zoonotic disease. 1,2,8,17 Care must be taken by all people who are potentially exposed to the feces, vomitus and other body fluids of infected animals. Animal handlers must also be careful to wash their hands after handling animal bedding, food dishes, and any other materials that may be contaminated with fecal material.
Differential Diagnosis: Helicobacteriosis Campylobacteriosis Giardiasis Coccidiosis Cryptosporidiosis Feline immunodeficiency virus infection Parvovirus (panleukopenia) Feline leukemia virus infection
References: 1) Greene CE: Salmonellosis. Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed. WB Saunders 1998 pp. 235-240. 2) Greene CE: Bacterial diseases. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 5th ed. WB Saunders 2000 pp. 390-400. 3) Foley JE, Orgad U, Hirsh DW, et al: Outbreak of fatal salmonellosis in cats following use of a high-titer modified-live panleukopenia virus vaccine. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999 Vol 214 pp. 67-70. 4) Spain CV, Scarlett JM, Wade SE, McDonough P: Prevalence of enteric zoonotic agents in cats less than 1 year old in central New York State. J Vet Intern Med 2001 Vol 15 pp. 33-38. 5) Hill SL, Cheney JM, Taton-Allen GE, et al: Prevalence of enteric zoonotic organisms in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000 Vol 216 pp. 687-692. 6) Kurowski PB, Traub-Dargatz JL, Morley PS, Gentry-Weeks CR: Detection of Salmonella spp. in fecal specimens by use of real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Am J Vet Res 2002 Vol 63 pp. 1265-1268. 7) Practice Bulletin Cornell University: Songbird fever. Companion Anim Pract 1988 Vol 2 pp. 31-32. 8) Tauni MA, Osterlund A: Outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium in cats and humans associated with infection in wild birds. J Small Anim Pract 2000 Vol 41 pp. 339-341. 9) McVey DS, Chengappa MM, Mosier DE, et al: Immunogenicity of chi4127 phoP-Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in dogs. Vaccine 2002 Vol 20 pp. 1618-1623. 10) Reilly Ga, Bailie NC, Morrow Wt, et al: Feline stillbirths associated with mixed Salmonella typhimurium and leptospira infection. Vet Rec 1994 Vol 135<25> pp. 608. 11) Rodriguez CO Jr, Moon ML, Leib MS: Salmonella choleraesuis pneumonia in a cat without signs of gastrointestinal tract disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1993 Vol 202 pp. 953-955. 12) Low JC, Tennant B, Munro D: Multiple-resistant Salmonella typhimurium DT104 in cats. Lancet 1991 Vol 348 pp. 1391. 13) Weber A, Wachowitz R, Weigl U, Schafer-Schmidt R: Occurrence of Salmonella in fecal samples of dogs and cats in northern Bavaria from 1975-1994. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1995 Vol 108 pp. 401-404. 14) Wall PG, Davis S, Threlfall EJ, et al: Chronic carriage of multidrug resistant Salmonella typhimurium in a cat. J Small Anim Pract 1995 Vol 36 pp. 279-281. 15) McDonough PL, Simpson KW: Diagnosing emerging bacterial infections: salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, clostridial toxicosis, and helicobacteriosis. Semin Vet Med Surg Small Anim 1996 Vol 11 pp. 187-197. 16) Dow SW, Jones RL, Henik RA, et al: Clinical features of salmonellosis in cats: six cases (1981-1986). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Vol 194<10> pp. 1464-1466. 17) Pelzer KD: Salmonellosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Vol 195 pp. 456-463
Source: VIN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *****Canine Salmonellosis*******
Salmonellosis (Zoonotic) Last updated on 10/18/2003. Contributors: Rhea V. Morgan DVM, DACVIM, DACVO
Disease description: Salmonella are nonspore-forming, gram-negative bacilli. They are motile members of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Salmonella infect primarily the gastrointestinal tract, and may affect a wide variety of animals and birds. All serovars are believed to belong to one species, S. enterica. Serovar names usually follow the Salmonella genus name, with “enterica” being deleted. Serovars are identified based on their somatic and flagellar antigens. Common serovars that cause disease in domestic animals include S. typhimurium, S. enteritidis, S. chloeraesiu, and S. arizonae. S. enteridis is further subdivided into more than a thousand bioserotypes, such as S. enteridis dublin. It is common practice to also delete the “enteridis” portion of the name, thereby relying upon the bioserotype portion to identify the bacteria, e.g. S. dublin. 1 The organism most commonly isolated from dogs and cats is S. typhimurium. 2
Salmonella often enter the intestinal tract by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Food, water, food stuffs, chew toys, etc. may be contaminated by the infected fecal material of insects, rodents, birds, or animals. 8 The bacteria may also be acquired from soiled utensils (fomites). Infections in animals are sometimes acquired from in-contact people. 1 In-utero infections may be transmitted to the offspring, resulting in abortion, stillbirths, or ill neonates. 1 The bacteria can survive in the environment for relatively long periods of time.
Most enteric organisms are not able to colonize the gastrointestinal tract (GI) unless there is disruption of the normal protective mechanisms of the intestinal tract, or alteration in the normal bacterial GI flora. Surviving organisms invade the ileum and may spread to lymph nodes, liver, and spleen via the lymphatics and blood vessels. Gastrointestinal signs are caused by invasion of the ileal epithelium and the subsequent inflammatory response. Diarrhea is secretory owing to increased production of adenyl cyclase. Bacteremia or endotoxemia may induce fever, endotoxic shock, and death. Shedding of bacteria may last for 3-6 weeks and may be intermittent. 1
Factors that increase the likelihood of clinical disease from Salmonellosis include ingestion of large numbers of bacteria, age of the animal, poor nutrition, presence of neoplasia and other concurrent diseases, stress, and the administration of antibiotics, chemotherapy, or glucocorticoids. 1
DIAGNOSTICS Hemogram results are variable. Anemia (nonregenerative), lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia with a left shift may be noted. Leukocytosis may occur with chronic infections. Serum chemistry results are often normal, unless clinical signs are severe. Then hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia or hyperkalemia, and elevated renal function tests may be found. Culture results from the gastrointestinal tract can be difficult to interpret, since many healthy animals may harbor the organism. 4,11-14 Isolation of the organism from other sites in the body is more significant. Negative cultures do not rule out the disease. 1 A fecal PCR assay can detect Salmonella in fecal samples, but is not widely available. 5 Serologic assays are difficult to interpret, are rarely diagnostic, and not often used. 1
Disease description in this species: Salmonella are commonly isolated from both healthy and hospitalized dogs. 1,2,11-13 Dogs appear to be more susceptible to infection than cats. 1 Gastroenteritis is the most common clinical manifestation in dogs, although bacteremia, endotoxemia, and pulmonary embolization may result in more severe, life-threatening signs. Less that 10% of infected animals die acutely. 1 Abortion, still births and ill puppies may occur with in utero infections. 1, 10
Etiology: Salmonella spp.
Age predilection: Juvenile
Clinical findings: Abdominal pain ABORTION AFEBRILE ANOREXIA Bradycardia Cachexia COUGHING Dehydration Depression DIARRHEA Diarrhea hemorrhagic Diarrhea mucoid DYSPNEA Epistaxis Exercise intolerant or reluctant to move FEVER Hematochezia Hemorrhagic diathesis Hyperpnea Hyperventilation, tachypnea Hypothermia Icterus Intestinal hemorrhage Malaise Nausea Neonatal mortality Onset sudden, acute TACHYCARDIA Tenesmus VAGINAL DISCHARGE VOMITING WEAKNESS Zoonosis, zoonoses ZZZ INDEX ZZZ
Diagnostic procedures: Diagnostic results: Ocular examination ANEMIA Anemia nonregenerative, nonresponding Leukopenia Lymphopenia, lymphocytes decreased Neutropenia, neutrophils decreased, left shift Thrombocytopenia Culture of feces, water, urine, blood, trachea Bacteria isolated and identified Salmonella isolated and identified Stained fecal smears Leukocytes in feces
Treatment/Management/Prevention: SPECIFIC 1) Unless the animal is systemically ill, antibiotics are withheld because they may produce a carrier state. Amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfa or chloramphenicol are the preferred drugs to administer. Other to consider, especially if sepsis is present, include enrofloxacin, imipenem, and the aminoglycosides:
Enrofloxacin (Baytril): 2.5 mg/kg PO q12h Orbifloxacin (Orbax): 2.5-7.5 mg/kg PO q24h Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin): 30 mg/kg PO, IV q8h Gentamicin (Gentocin): 5 mg/kg IV, IM, SC q24h Trimethoprim/sulfadiazine: 15 mg/kg PO, SC q12h Sulfadimethoxine/ormetoprim (Primor): Initial dose 55 mg/kg (25 mg/lb) PO, then 27.5 mg/kg (12.5 mg/lb) q24h SUPPORTIVE 1) Nothing should be given by mouth if vomiting or severe diarrhea are present.
2) Fluid therapy is important and indicated for most animals with gastrointestinal signs:
Dehydration should be estimated and deficiency replaced with lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) and dextrose 5% (D5W) or similar solutions. Three quarters of the loss should be replaced immediately and the remainder in 24 hours. Daily maintenance fluid, similar to the above, 40-50 ml/kg/day should also be administered. If hypokalemia is present, potassium is added to the above fluids at the rate of 30 mEq/L, unless additional potassium is already present in the fluids being used (Normosol-M in D5W). The rate of administration of K+ should be no more than 0.5 mEq/kg/h. 3) Protein supplements in the form of amino acids 5% (20 ml/kg/day) or plasma may be needed if the pet has prolonged gastrointestinal signs.
4) The use of anticholinergic drugs (atropine and derivatives) are not recommended because they tend to promote bacterial overgrowth and are of little value in combating diarrhea induced by salmonellosis.
Preventive Measures: Salmonella are susceptible to many disinfectants, such as the phenolic compounds, and diluted bleach, as well as household detergents. The bacteria can also be killed by most sterilizing techniques. Infection from food stuffs can be decreased by feeding only fully cooked foods and food stored at proper temperatures. 6 Infected animals should be isolated and all areas/equipment cleaned that came into contact with them. Complete eradication within a given animal population is difficult, because some animals may be asymptomatic carriers and shedders of the bacteria.1, 11-13 Animals recovering from clinical infections may also shed the bacteria for 6 or more weeks. 1 Research to investigate the development of a vaccine for salmonellosis is underway. 7
Special considerations: Salmonellosis is a both a zoonotic and reverse-zoonotic disease. 1,2,16,17 Care must be taken by all people who are potentially exposed to the feces, vomitus and other body fluids of infected animals. Animal handlers must also be careful to wash their hands after handling animal bedding, food dishes, and any other materials that may be contaminated with fecal material.
Here is link to "Salmonellosis" article from Iowa State University, Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics. Salmonellosis
Here is link to some VIN discussions on Salmonella diarrhea, Salmonella and BARF diet: VIN discussions
Differential Diagnosis: Helicobacteriosis Campylobacteriosis Giardiasis Coccidiosis Cryptosporidiosis Coronavirus Parvovirus
References: 1) Greene CE: Salmonellosis. Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders 1998 pp. 235-240. 2) Greene CE: Bacterial diseases. Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 5th ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders 2000 pp. 390-400. 3) Hackett T, Lappin MR: Prevalence of enteric pathogens in dogs of North-Central Colorado. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2003 Vol 39 pp. 52-56. 4) Fukata T, Naito F, Yoshida N, et al: Incidence of Salmonella infection in healthy dogs in Gifu prefecture, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2002 Vol 64 pp. 1079-1080. 5) Kurowski PB, Traub-Dargatz JL, Morley PS, Gentry-Weeks CR: Detection of Salmonella spp. in fecal specimens by use of real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Am J Vet Res 2002 Vol 63 pp. 1265-1268. 6) Joffe DJ, Schlesinger DP: Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets. Can Vet J 2002 Vol 43 pp. 441-442. 7) McVey DS, Chengappa MM, Mosier DE, et al: Immunogenicity of chi4127 phoP-Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in dogs. Vaccine 2002 Vol 20 pp. 1618-1623. 8) Willis C: Isolation of Salmonella species from imported dog chews. Vet Rec 2001 Vol 149 pp. 426-427. 9) Sato Y, Kuwamoto R: A case of canine salmonellosis due to Salmonella infantis. J Vet Med Sci 1999 Vol 61 pp. 71-72. 10) Caldow GL, Graham MM: Abortion in foxhounds and a ewe flock associated with Salmonella montevideo infection. Vet Rec 1998 Vol 142 pp. 138-139. 11) Cantor GH, Nelson S Jr, Vanek JA, et al: Salmonella shedding in racing dogs. J Vet Diagn Invest 1997 Vol 9 pp. 447-448. 12) Adesiyun AA, Campbell M, Kaminjolo JS: Prevalence of bacterial enteropathogens in pet dogs in Trinidad. Zentralbl Veterinarmed 1997 Vol 44 pp. 19-27. 13) Weber A, Wachowitz R, Weigl U, Schafer-Schmidt R: . Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1995 Vol 108 (11) pp. 401-404. 14) Buogo C, Burmens AP, Perrin J, Nicolet J: Presence of Campylobacter spp., Clostridium difficile, C. perfirngens and salmonellae in litters of puppies and in adult dogs in a shelter. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 1995 Vol 137 (5) pp. 165-171. 15) McDonough PL, Simpson KW: Diagnosing emerging bacterial infections: salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, clostridial toxicosis, and helicobacteriosis. Semin Vet Med Surg Small Anim 1996 Vol 11 pp. 187-197. 16) Sato Y, Mori T, Koyamam T, Nagase H: Salmonella virchow infection in an infant transmitted by household dogs. J Vet Med Sci 2000 Vol 62 pp. 767-769. 17) Pelzer KD: Salmonellosis. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Vol 195 pp. 456-463.
Source: VIN
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