Non-Typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) Associated Chronic Enterocolitis in a Kangeyam Heifer Calf - An Uncommon Report

Abstract

Salmonellosis in India is reported to be endemic and one  of the confirmed bacterial causes of diarrhoea in all age  groups of bovines and humans (Nair et al., 2015; Hassan et  al., 2020). The Salmonella enteric serotype typhimurium, is  an important serotype among the non-typhoidal Salmonella  (NTS) in cattle and human. The global disease burden of  salmonellosis is 3.4 million but the lacking surveillance system  led to underestimation of the disease in India (Kumar et al.,  2022). Salmonellosis in bovines can be either acute or chronic,  causing septicaemia in neonates, whereas the infected  adults appear to be apparently healthy (Safi et al., 2022).  The infected adult bovines may exhibit watery or bloody  diarrhoea due to necrotic enterocolitis, along with pyrexia,  anorexia, dehydration, hypersalivation, and endotoxaemia,  and rarely abortion (McGuirk and Peek, 2003; Hoelzer et al.,  2011). In human, Salmonella is the second most common  food-borne bacteria causing gastrointestinal illnesses. The  human transmission may occur by consumption of foods  of animal origin such as milk and meat contaminated by  manure and contact with farm animals (Zizza et al., 2024).  Though cattle is potential carrier for transmission of infection  to humans, reports on detection of salmonella in bovines  especially zoonotic are scarcely available in India. Hence,  this study reports the incidence of enterocolitis caused by  Salmonella in a Kangeyam calf, it’s laboratory diagnosis and  successful treatment.