Aeromonads are ubiquitous foodborne pathogens with a global distribution. Animal-origin foods and contaminated animals are the main sources of Aeromonas infection to humans. So far little is known about the occurrence of Aeromonas spp. in food-producing animals in India. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and seroprevalence of Aeromonas species from 50 each of meat, blood, and sera samples collected from cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs slaughtered in and around Nagpur, Central India. Alkaline peptone water and ampicillin dextrin agar were used to isolate Aeromonas spp. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was standardized by use of whole-cell antigen (WC) and outer membrane protein (OMP) of Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 646). Aeromonads were isolated from 44 (22%) of the meat samples, and 1 (0.5%) from the blood samples. Seroprevalence by indirect ELISA-based WC antigen was estimated as 68% in cattle, 44% in buffaloes, 60% in goats, and 30% in pigs. OMP-based ELISA yielded a seroprevalence of 56%, 48%, 52%, and 22% in cattle, buffaloes, goats, and pigs, respectively. The results revealed that OMP-based ELISA and WC-based ELISA were in agreement with one another. Isolation along with high seropositivity demonstrates the presence of foodborne Aeromonas spp. in the Nagpur city of Central India.

Aim:To determine the prevalence, antibiogram and pathogenicity of Salmonella spp. in the common food animals slaughtered for consumption purpose at government approved slaughter houses located in and around Nagpur region during a period of 2010-2012.Materials and Methods:A total of 400 samples comprising 50 each of blood and meat from each slaughtered male cattle, buffaloes, pigs and goats were collected. Isolation was done by pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water and enrichment in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth with subsequent selective plating onto xylose lysine deoxycholate agar. Presumptive Salmonella colonies were biochemically confirmed and analyzed for pathogenicity by hemolysin production and Congo red dye binding assay (CRDA). An antibiotic sensitivity test was performed to assess the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates.Results:A total of 10 isolates of Salmonella spp. from meat (3 from cattle, 1 from buffaloes and 6 from pigs) with an overall prevalence of 5% among food animals was recorded. No isolation was reported from any blood samples. Pathogenicity assays revealed 100% and 80% positivity for CRDA and hemolytic activity, respectively. Antimicrobial sensitivity test showed multi-drug resistance. The overall resistance of 50% was noted for trimethoprim followed by ampicillin (20%). A maximum sensitivity (80%) was reported to gentamycin followed by 40% each to ampicillin and trimethoprim, 30% to amikacin and 10% to kanamycin.Conclusion:The presence of multidrug resistant and potentially pathogenic Salmonella spp. in slaughtered food animals in Nagpur region can be a matter of concern for public health.

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Salmonella is a widespread enteric pathogen of many animal species, including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and humans. It is an opportunistic bacterium, infecting immunosuppressed animal and takes over lead in the absence of other competing gut bacteria. Salmonella Typhimurium DT104, is of particular public health concern. In the present study sero-survey based on in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been attempted to study prevalence of anti-Salmonella antibodies among food animals by employing whole cell (WC) and lipopolysachharide (LPS) antigens. A total of 200 sera samples comprising 50 each from slaughter male cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs were included in a study. WC-ELISA recorded 24% (cattle), 6% (buffalo), 68% (goat) and 74% (pigs) seropositivity for Salmonella whereas LPS-ELISA estimated seroprevalence of 8%, 0%, 56% and 40% among cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs respectively. Though the results of ELISAs based on two antigens are not parallel, but the fact of presence of anti-Salmonella antibodies among food animals cannot be denied which is important from public health point of view. More comprehensive studies on livestock salmonellosis are required for further analysis of the bacterial reservoir for human infection. The usefulness of these two antigens as the diagnostic markers for detecting anti-Salmonella antibodies requires more study.