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Members
of the genus Salmonella are gram-negative, facultatively
anaerobic, intracellular parasites that invade the mucous
membrane of a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptiles.
Under certain circumstances they can cause systemic
disease. Species of Salmonella that are recognized to
be of major pathogenic significance in veterinary microbiology
include S.choleraesuis, S.arizonae, S.enteritidis, and
S.typhimurium. Salmonella can survive for a relatively
long period outside the host. Finding Salmonella in
the environment usually indicates direct or indirect
fecal contamination. Dogs and cats may acquire Salmonella
infection by drinking contaminated water, although this
is less of a problem in areas where pets drink from
chlorinated municipal water supplies. Puppies and kittens
younger than one year are more susceptible to infection
and clinical illness than adult animals. The clinical
signs associated with Salmonella gastroenteritis are
variable. Most acute episodes begin within 3 to 5 days
of exposure to the organism or after stress in carriers.
Fever of 40oC to 41oC, malaise, and anorexia are noted
initially followed by vomiting, abdominal pain, and
diarrhea. Severely affected animals have pale mucous
membrane, weakness, marked dehydration and shock. Abortion,
stillbirth, and birth of weak puppies or kittens may
result from in utero infection. Only a small proportion
(<10%) of infected animals die during the acute stage
of salmonellosis. Animals affected by acute diarrhea
usually recover after 3 to 4 weeks and recovered and
clinically normal animals usually shed the organisms
for up to 6 weeks.
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