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Experimental salmonellosis challenge model in older calves
Timothy A Snider1, Tamara Gull1, Todd A Jackson1
1Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Veterinary Microbiology
|February 18, 2014
Summary
Researchers established effective Salmonella infection doses in calves to model human foodborne illness. This research aids in developing vaccines against non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars, a major global health concern.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Food Safety
Background:
- Non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars (NTS) cause significant global foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths, particularly in the United States.
- Current vaccine development for Salmonella is hindered by the lack of a suitable natural animal model, with most research relying on mouse models.
- Calves infected with Salmonella exhibit gastroenteritis, mirroring human disease, making them a relevant model for studying Salmonella pathogenesis and vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the optimal bacterial dose of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Newport for inducing substantial clinical gastroenteritis in ten-week-old calves without causing mortality.
- To establish a reliable calf model for evaluating the efficacy of potential vaccines against NTS infections.
Main Methods:
- Ten-week-old calves were orally inoculated with escalating doses of Salmonella Typhimurium or Salmonella Newport.
- Clinical illness was assessed using a scoring system evaluating rectal temperature, fecal consistency, attitude, and hydration.
- Gross and microscopic pathology examinations were conducted to evaluate disease severity.
Main Results:
- Calves infected with Salmonella Typhimurium showed severe gastroenteritis at a dose of 1 × 10^8 colony-forming units (CFUs).
- Calves infected with Salmonella Newport developed severe gastroenteritis at a dose of 1 × 10^7 CFUs.
- In both serovars, the established doses induced significant clinical and pathological signs of gastroenteritis without resulting in calf mortality.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified specific Salmonella Typhimurium and Newport doses that reliably induce severe gastroenteritis in calves, establishing a valuable natural model for human disease.
- This calf model provides a critical platform for advancing vaccine development against NTS, addressing a significant gap in current foodborne illness prevention strategies.
