Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

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.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.