Salmonellosis in Animals

Salmonella has long been recognized as an important zoonotic pathogen of economic importance in animals and humans. The prevalent reservoir of Salmonella is the intestinal tract of a wide range of domestic and wild animals which may conclude in a diversity of foodstuffs of both animal and plant origin becoming infected with faecal organisms either directly or indirectly. In spite of mounting concerns about other pathogens in recent years, Salmonella remains among the leading causes of food-borne disease throughout the world. Lots of both domestic and wild animals are infected by Salmonella spp., mostly harboring the bacteria in their gastrointestinal tracts with no obvious signs of illness. Therefore, Salmonella are usually present in faeces excreted by healthy animals and many times pollute raw foods of animal origin through faecal contact during production and slaughter. The organism may also be transmitted through direct contact with infected animals or humans or faecal contaminated environments. Infected food handlers may also act as a source of contamination for foodstuffs. Because of increasing antibiotic resistance of organism and companion animals, animals are important source of Salmonella infection for human. The organism can be monitored and precautions should be taken regularly by new technological methods.