Prevalence and identification of Salmonella spp. in water buffaloes from São Paulo State, Brazil

Comparative Analysis Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis Highlights a Potential Transmission of Salmonella Between Asymptomatic Buffaloes and Pigs in a Single Farm

“…Salmonella is one of the most important pathogens in livestock animals, and is a matter of concern, as it may be responsible for great economic losses within the herd, as well as being a zoonotic agent linked to foodborne illness and therefore a major public health concern worldwide ( 1 ). In buffaloes, Salmonella is also responsible for economic losses ( 2 ), and several serotypes have been reported worldwide ( 2 – 8 ), isolated in feces ( 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ), raw meat ( 4 , 8 ) and milk ( 7 ). Although reports show that salmonellosis in buffalo-calves is a widespread disease characterized by gastrointestinal lesions, diarrhea, hyperthermia, and dehydration ( 2 , 9 , 10 ), the major source of infection in the herd are asymptomatic adult animals shedding the bacteria through the feces ( 2 ), which is a great concern since these animals can act as reservoirs and be a great risk of transmission to humans and other animal species ( 3 ).…”