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Septicemic salmonellosis in two llamas
N V Anderson1, D E Anderson, H W Leipold
1Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Salmonella choleraesuis var kunzendorf and Salmonella typhimurium caused fatal infections in a llama and a cria, respectively. These findings highlight potential zoonotic risks from contaminated environments and animal contact.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Zoonotic Disease Research
Background:
- Salmonella infections can cause severe illness and mortality in various animal species.
- Llamas and South American camelids can be susceptible to bacterial pathogens.
- Swine are known reservoirs for Salmonella species, posing a risk to cohabiting animals.
Observation:
- A 6-year-old female llama died following a short illness, with Salmonella choleraesuis var kunzendorf isolated from its lungs.
- The llama had recent fence-line contact with a group of 40 sows.
- A 6-day-old male cria also died after a brief illness, and Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from its blood.
Findings:
- Necropsy revealed Salmonella choleraesuis var kunzendorf as the likely cause of death in the adult llama.
- Salmonella typhimurium infection was identified as the cause of mortality in the neonatal llama cria.
- The isolation of different Salmonella serovars from two distinct cases suggests multiple potential sources or transmission routes.
Implications:
- These cases underscore the importance of biosecurity measures on farms with mixed animal populations to prevent pathogen transmission.
- Identifying the specific Salmonella serovars is crucial for targeted treatment and epidemiological investigations.
- Further research into Salmonella transmission dynamics between swine and camelids may be warranted to mitigate future outbreaks.