C.A.H.L.
- YOUR PARTNER IN ANIMAL HEALTH
SALMONELLA
CAUSE:
There are several strains of salmonella, two of which are Salmonella
dublin and Salmonella typhimurium. The germs come from sewage, carrier
animals or carrier humans.
SYMPTOMS:
Watery and blood-stained diarrhoea often mixed with large shreds of
gut lining.
The animal runs a high temperature and stops eating. With a cow the
milk in the udder virtually dries up. The eyes sink into the head and
the animal rapidly becomes hunched up and dehydrated. Many may die despite
treatment and if the animal is pregnant, abortion usually occurs.
TREATMENT:
Water dung contains millions of salmonella, and any suspected case should
be isolated at once to avoid spread of the disease. It is recommended
that a shed with no drainage to the outside be used.
Contact
your veterinary surgeon, who will confirm the diagnosis by laboratory
examination of a faeces sample and will prescribe the correct treatment.
Salmonella
dublin may cause pneumonia or meningitis and sudden death.
PREVENTION:
There are a range of vaccines available and are being continually improved.
Your veterinary advisor will give you a plan to prevent the spread of
the disease once it has been diagnosed.
It is very
important to note that salmonella bacteria can and do affect humans,
causing food poisoning with a high fever, severe abdominal pain, vomiting
and diarrhoea. So when dealing with a case use rubber gloves or wash
your hands frequently in hot water containing a non-irritant antiseptic.
