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Pet dogs overlooked as spreaders of Salmonella – study
A major concern is the closeness of humans and pet dogs that creates opportunity for Salmonella zoonosis.

Appropriate hygiene measures could reduce infections. 

Pet dogs are an overlooked transmission point for zoonotic pathogens such as antimicrobial-resistent Salmonella, according to new research.

Writing in Zoonoses and Public Health, researchers note that household dogs are a risk for the spread of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella, and that greater awareness of the risk and proper hygiene could reduce cross-species infections.

According to team leader Erika Ganda, assistant professor of food animal microbiomes at Penn State, a major concern is the closeness of humans and pet dogs that creates opportunity for Salmonella zoonosis. Pet-management decisions involving food contamination, improper food handling or both can increase the likelihood of infection, she said.

In the study, researchers identified all non-typhodial Salmonella strains isolated from domestic dogs between May 2017 and March 2023.

They matched the timing and location of those 87 cases to strains isolated from humans in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database maintained at the National Institutes of Health. Strains isolated from dogs included diverse serovars, or distinct variations within the species of bacteria, with most being clinically relevant to human health.

Sophia Kennet, a student in the molecular, cellular and intergrative biosciences doctoral program, and in the Department of Animal Science, who spearheaded the study, said:
 "We identified 16 nontyphoidal Salmonella isolates from humans closely related to more than one of six dog-associated strains.

"Collectively, our data emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship and sustained biosurveillance beyond human and agriculture-associated veterinary medicine, using a 'One Health' framework, that accounts for all transmission points -- including companion animals".

Image (C) Shutterstock.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.