Distribution of Salmonella serovars and characterization of isolates in cattle feces and environmental samples

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to identify the presence of Salmonella serovars, and investigate the antibiotic susceptibility of isolates and the presence of certain virulence factors in the samples collected from cattle feces and environmental samples. Fecal and environmental swab samples were regularly collected from five different dairy cattle farms for a period of one year, once in each season. Totally, 425 fecal samples from animals, 21 of which had diarrhea and 400 environmental samples were examined for Salmonella spp. While no Salmonella spp. was isolated from the environmental samples, Salmonella spp. was isolated from three (0.36%) of the fecal samples. All isolates were isolated from a single farm and they were sampled in autumn. Two strains were serotyped as S. Kottbus and the other as S. Lindenburg. All serovars were found to be sulfamethoxazole-resistant, while susceptible to cefoxitin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, ceftiofur and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. While mgtC, misL and invA were detected in all isolates, no pefA was detected. stn was detected in S. Lindenburg and one of S. Kottbus, whereas the spvA was detected only in S. Lindenburg. Presence of isolation only in one of the five farms and the low isolation rates were associated with a good level of biosecurity measures in the area where the study was conducted. Salmonella spp. isolation from healthy animals apart from animals with diarrhea was found to be important in terms of the role that persistently infected animals can play in the spread of the agent.