Epidemiology of Salmonella Fecal Shedding in Naturally Infected Ohio Dairy Herds

Abstract

Salmonella is a common bovine pathogen that is known to cause severe enteritis and septicemia in cattle of all ages, often resulting in serious economic losses through increased disease or reduced production. The gastrointestinal tract of food animals is also considered to be a major source of food-borne Salmonella infections in humans. However, little is known about the transmission patterns and cycles of infection that allow this bacteria to persist in populations of dairy cattle. The goal of this project was to characterize the population dynamics of Salmonella infection and fecal shedding in naturally infected dairy herds.