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Title: SALMONELLA NEWPORT OUTBREAK AT A GREYHOUND BREEDING FACILITY

Author
item STROHMEYER, R - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item MORLEY, PAUL - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item HYATT, D - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item BOLTE, D - COLORADO STATE UNIV
item Tankson, Jeanetta
item Cray, Paula

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2004
Publication Date: 11/14/2004
Citation: Strohmeyer, R.A., Morley, P.S., Hyatt, D., Bolte, D., Tankson, J.D., Cray, P.J. 2004. SALMONELLA NEWPORT OUTBREAK AT A GREYHOUND BREEDING FACILITY . Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings. November 14 - 16, 2004. Chicago, IL.

Interpretive Summary: Salmonella Newport has recently been implicated in many outbreaks of illness in both humans and animals. The purpose of this report is to report an outbreak of Salmonella at a greyhound breeding facility. The operation had reported mild clinical disease to severe diarrhea and death in four to eight week old pups during the previous year. Fecal and environmental samples were obtained from throughout the facility. Of 133 cultures, 88 or 66 % were positive for Salmonella. Eighty-one of the positive samples were serotype Newport. Ninety-three percent of fecal samples from dogs were positive for Salmonella, as well as 100 percent of the samples taken from food bowls. The greyhounds' ration consisted primarily of raw meat condemned for human consumption that was sold specifically for feeding dogs. Thirty-three percent of the raw meat samples cultured positive for Salmonella Newport. Based on culture results from the outbreak investigation, it was determined the Salmonella was the most likely cause of morbidity and mortality in puppies. Analysis of ribosomal RNA supported that many of the isolates had a common source. It was also determined that the most likely source of the exposure to Salmonella was the raw meat being fed in the daily ration. Raw meat has been commonly fed to athletic and high performance dogs in the United States.

Technical Abstract: Salmonella Newport has recently been implicated in many outbreaks of illness in both humans and animals. The purpose of this report is to report an outbreak of Salmonella at a greyhound breeding facility. The operation had reported mild clinical disease to severe diarrhea and death in four to eight week old pups during the previous year. Fecal and environmental samples were obtained from throughout the facility. Of 133 cultures, 88 or 66 % were positive for Salmonella. Eighty-one of the positive samples were serotype Newport. Ninety-three percent of fecal samples from dogs were positive for Salmonella, as well as 100 percent of the samples taken from food bowls. The greyhounds' ration consisted primarily of raw meat condemned for human consumption that was sold specifically for feeding dogs. Thirty-three percent of the raw meat samples cultured positive for Salmonella Newport. Based on culture results from the outbreak investigation, it was determined the Salmonella was the most likely cause of morbidity and mortality in puppies. Analysis of ribosomal RNA supported that many of the isolates had a common source. It was also determined that the most likely source of the exposure to Salmonella was the raw meat being fed in the daily ration. Raw meat has been commonly fed to athletic and high performance dogs in the United States.