Systemic salmonellosis in 4 cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Salmonellosis, a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella species, can affect various animal species, including cats.
• Clinical presentations and pathological findings of salmonellosis in felines can vary, potentially leading to severe illness and mortality.
• Understanding the specific serovars and their impact is crucial for diagnosis and treatment of feline salmonellosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical, gross, and histologic findings in four cases of feline salmonellosis.
• To identify the causative Salmonella enterica serovars in affected cats.
• To correlate clinical signs with pathological changes and bacterial identification.

Main Methods:

• Case series analysis of four cats diagnosed with salmonellosis.
• Clinical data collection including signs, outcome, and physical examination findings.
• Gross necropsy and histologic examination of tissues.
• Bacteriologic culture and serotyping of Salmonella enterica isolates.

Main Results:

• Clinical signs included vomiting, diarrhea, fever, dystocia, icterus, and seizures.
• Pathologic findings revealed necrotizing enterocolitis, hepatocellular necrosis, and lymphoid necrosis.
• Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, serovar Enteritidis and serovar Typhimurium, were identified as the causative agents.

Conclusions:

• Salmonellosis in cats can manifest with severe clinical and pathological signs, often resulting in a fatal outcome.
• Necrotizing enterocolitis and hepatocellular necrosis are key histologic findings.
• Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium are significant causes of severe salmonellosis in felines.