Identification of sources of Salmonella organisms in a veterinary teaching hospital and evaluation of the effects of disinfectants on detection of Salmonella organisms on surface materials

Abstract

Results of the present study suggested that Salmonella organisms can be isolated from feces of hospitalized horses and a variety of environmental surfaces in a large animal hospital. Although recovery of Salmonella organisms was affected by surface material and disinfectant, bleach was the most effective disinfectant on the largest number of surfaces tested.

Prevalence of Salmonella in pig ear pet treats

“…The primers have however been reported by Arnold, Scholtz, Marg, Rsler, and Hensel (2004) to show unspecific bands that may be open to misinterpretation. There is also the possibility that the PCR reaction is detecting DNA of dead or damaged Salmonella cells (Ewart et al, 2001).…”

SalmonellaTyphimurium Outbreak Associated with Veterinary Clinic

“…If the clinic environment was the source of infection, cleaning apparently eliminated contamination by the time environmental specimens were collected in late September. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing may have yielded different results; however, a positive result on a PCR test might represent nonviable bacterial DNA ( 3 , 4 ). …”

“…Salmonellosis is a well-recognized nosocomial problem at large-animal veterinary hospitals ( 3 , 4 ), but it is associated with few, if any, human outbreaks. In small-animal medicine, salmonellosis is likely underrecognized because gastrointestinal illness is common and often self-limiting.…”

Animal contact as a source of human non-typhoidal salmonellosis

“…High population density is thought to be another predisposing factor. The epidemiological significance of environmental contamination remains difficult to assess, but good environmental hygiene practices have been efficient in controlling hospital outbreaks [132,141-143]. Numerous serotypes have been isolated from clinically healthy or sick horses, and a considerable number of outbreaks involving a variety of medically important serotypes have occurred in large animal hospitals (Table 1, Additional file 1: Table S1).…”