Detection of Salmonella from animal sources in South Africa between 2007 and 2014.
Abstract: Retrospective laboratory-based surveillance was conducted on Salmonella serotypes isolated from various animal species from 2007 to 2014 at the Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute, South Africa. During the surveillance period, 1229 salmonellae isolations were recorded. Around 108 different serotypes were recovered from nine different food and non-food animal host species. The three most common serotypes were Salmonella entericasubspecies enterica serotype Heidelberg (n = 200), Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Enteritidis (n = 170) and Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhimurium (n = 146). These were followed by Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Anatum (n = 62) and Salmonella entericasubspecies enterica serotype Infantis (n = 57). Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Schwarzengrund and Salmonella enterica subspecies entericaserotype Muenchen were recovered in 50 and 48 cases, respectively. Of the total number of isolations recorded during the period under review, 871 (70.8%) occurred in poultry and other birds, 162 (13.2%) in horses, 116 (9.4%) in cattle, 26 (2.1%) in sheep and goats, 22 (1.8%) in rhinoceroses, 16 (1.3%) in pigs, 8 (0.6%) in crocodiles, 6 (0.5%) in cats and 6 (0.5%) in leopards. Food animals accounted for 83.5% of the total isolations, with cattle and poultry representing approximately 72.7%. Forty-two (3.4 %) isolates were found from non-food animals that include rhinoceroses (n = 22), crocodiles (n = 8), leopards (n = 6) and cats (n = 6). Salmonella Heidelberg was the most frequently isolated serotype, whereas S. Typhimurium had the widest zoological distribution. Clinical laboratory isolation of different Salmonella serotypes from various hosts may aid in recognising the threat to livestock, public and environmental health. Moreover, it may also highlight the potential zoonotic and food safety risk implications of the detected Salmonella serotypes.
Publication Date: 2018-11-07 PubMed ID: 30456978PubMed Central: PMC6244140DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v89i0.1643Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research involved a retrospective study on different types of Salmonella (referred to as serotypes) isolated from different species of animals in South Africa between 2007 and 2014. The study found a wide distribution of various Salmonella serotypes in different host species, highlighting potential health risks to both humans and animals.
Scope of the Research
- The study was a retrospective laboratory-based surveillance carried out on Salmonella serotypes isolated from various animal species over a period of seven years.
- The analysis was performed at the Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute in South Africa.
- Out of nine different host species, 108 different serotypes of Salmonella were isolated.
Major Findings
- The surveillance period recorded a total of 1229 Salmonella isolations.
- The three most common Salmonella serotypes found were Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg, Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis, and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. These were followed by Salmonella enterica serotype Anatum and Salmonella enterica serotype Infantis.
- By host species, the highest number of isolations recorded occurred in poultry and other birds. This was followed by horses, cattle, sheep and goats, rhinoceroses, pigs, crocodiles, cats, and leopards.
Health Implications
- Food animals accounted for 83.5% of the total isolations, inevitably bringing potential food safety risks into light.
- Non-food animals including rhinoceroses, crocodiles, leopards, and cats also hosted a small percentage of isolations. These findings indicate potential zoonotic risks.
- Given the wide zoological distribution of Salmonella, the study highlights the urgency to be vigilant over the public, environmental, and animal health threats posed by the bacteria.
Concluding Remarks
- The research underscores the importance of continuous surveillance of Salmonella serotypes in various hosts which can serve as an early warning and preventive measure against potential health crises.
- The findings also highlight food and zoonotic safety risks, drawing decision makers’ attention towards implementing strategies to mitigate these potential threats.
Cite This Article
APA
Gelaw AK, Nthaba P, Matle I.
(2018).
Detection of Salmonella from animal sources in South Africa between 2007 and 2014.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 89, e1-e10.
https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v89i0.1643 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Council, Irene. kidanemariama@arc.agric.za.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Food Microbiology
- Population Surveillance / methods
- Retrospective Studies
- Salmonella / classification
- Salmonella / isolation & purification
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / diagnosis
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
- Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
- Serogroup
- South Africa / epidemiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest with regard to the writing of this article.
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