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Title: SHEDDING OF SALMONELLA SPP BY LIVESTOCK AT AGRICULTURAL FAIRS

Author
item WITTUM, THOMAS - OHIO STATE UNIV
item Keen, James
item HANSEN, GLENN - OHIO STATE UNIV
item MOLLENKOPF, DIXIE - OHIO STATE UNIV
item FUNK, JULIE - OHIO STATE UNIV
item DUNN, JOHN - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV
item Bono, James - Jim
item FONTENOT, MARY - LOUISIANA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/6/2003
Publication Date: 11/9/2003
Citation: WITTUM, T.E., KEEN, J.E., HANSEN, G.E., MOLLENKOPF, D.F., FUNK, J.A., DUNN, J.R., BONO, J.L., FONTENOT, M.E. SHEDDING OF SALMONELLA SPP BY LIVESTOCK AT AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. RESEARCH WORKERS IN ANIMAL DISEASES CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS. 2003. ABSTRACT NO. 61.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fecal shedding of Salmonella spp by agricultural animals without clinical disease is commonly reported. Agricultural fairs provide the opportunity for direct contact between large numbers of people and agricultural animals. We visited 29 county fairs in 2 states and 3 state fairs during the summer of 2002 in order to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella spp shedding in agricultural fair animals. We collected 2914 fresh fecal samples from the ground including samples from 1420 cattle, 1095 pigs, 252 sheep, 103 goats, and 44 other fair animals. In addition, we live trapped 154 muscoid pest fly pools containing approximately 8,000 individual flies at 19 of the county fairs and 2 of the state fairs. Salmonella spp were recovered from samples at 26 of the 29 county fairs (90%) and from all 3 of the state fairs. Overall, we recovered Salmonella spp from nearly 18% of the samples that were collected. Prevalence rates by species were: cattle, 4.7%, pigs, 39.3%, sheep, 5.2% goats, 4.9%, other fair animals, 4.6%. Salmonella spp were also recovered from 16.2% of the fly pools. Our results suggest that livestock at agricultural fairs commonly shed Salmonella spp. In addition, agricultural fairs may serve as an efficient means of Salmonella spp transmission between animals and dissemination back to farms.