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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2019; 33(5); 2239-2248; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15579

Risk factors for shedding of Salmonella enterica among hospitalized large animals over a 10-year period in a veterinary teaching hospital.

Abstract: Transmission of Salmonella in veterinary hospitals is typically associated with environmental contamination. Links between isolates recovered from hospitalized large animals and environment suggest animals as the likely source. Therefore, understanding factors influencing shedding is key in control. Shedding in hospitalized animals has been investigated, but many studies focused on subsets of animals limiting generalizability. Objective: (1) Investigate factors associated with fecal shedding of Salmonella among hospitalized large animals at a veterinary hospital. (2) Compare results obtained using 2 comparison groups for risk factor analysis-large animals with high confidence in negative shedding status and those with potential for misclassification of shedding status. Methods: Large animals admitted from March 2002 through December 2012. Methods: A case-control study was conducted among all hospitalized large animals that were routinely cultured as part of infection control efforts. Animal and hospital factors were evaluated. Data on factors of interest were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between animal factors and fecal shedding of Salmonella enterica. Results: During the study period, 5.9% (648/11 061) of hospitalized large animals were culture positive for Salmonella, with the majority being cattle (72%; 467/648) and horses (22%; 143/648). Although the odds of shedding varied by comparison group, overall, 69.4% of animal shedding could be attributed to systemic illness (population attributable fraction) in this study. Conclusions: Findings of this study inform our understanding of factors affecting Salmonella shedding in hospitalized large animals, thus improving our ability for implementation of evidence-based control measures.
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2019-08-13 PubMed ID: 31410902PubMed Central: PMC6766568DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15579Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the factors associated with Salmonella enterica shedding among large animals admitted in a veterinary hospital over ten years. The study also compares the results of the risk associated with the animals that confidently didn’t show signs of this bacterial infection and those with potential for misclassification.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The primary aim of the research paper was to identify the risk factors associated with the fecal shedding of Salmonella among large animals in a veterinary hospital.
  • The secondary objective of the study was to compare the results from two groups – animals with a high certainty of negative shedding status and those whose shedding status might be misinterpreted.
  • To achieve the study objectives, a case-control experiment was conducted on all large animals that were routinely cultured for infection control purposes between March 2002 to December 2012.
  • The animal (pet or farm animal) and environmental (barns, open fields, cages, stable, or a variety of these) factors were taken into account. The data were collected retrospectively from electronic medical records.
  • The researchers then used a multivariable conditional logistic regression methodology to identify any existing association between animal-related factors and shedding of Salmonella enterica bacteria.

Key Findings

  • Over the ten-year period, it was found that 5.9% (648 out of 11,061) of large animals admitted to the veterinary hospital tested positive for Salmonella culture. The majority of these animals were cattle (72% or 467 out of 648) and horses (22% or 143 out of 648).
  • The odds of shedding differed among animal groups, but the study found that 69.4% of animal shedding could be attributed to systemic illness (population attributable factor).

Significance of the Study

  • The results of the study enhance our understanding of the factors influencing bacterial shedding in large animals within a veterinary hospital setting.
  • As such, the findings play a crucial role in improving the ability to implement evidence-based control measures for diseases caused by the Salmonella enterica bacterium.

Cite This Article

APA
Burgess BA, Morley PS. (2019). Risk factors for shedding of Salmonella enterica among hospitalized large animals over a 10-year period in a veterinary teaching hospital. J Vet Intern Med, 33(5), 2239-2248. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15579

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
Pages: 2239-2248

Researcher Affiliations

Burgess, Brandy A
  • Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Morley, Paul S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Artiodactyla
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cattle
  • Colorado / epidemiology
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Hospitals, Animal
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
  • Salmonella enterica / isolation & purification

Grant Funding

  • James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
  • Storm Cat Career Development Award, Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, Lexington, KY

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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