SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM DT104 - A VIRULENT AND DRUG-RESISTANT PATHOGEN

Salmonella typhimurium phage type (PT) or definitive type (DT) 104 is a virulent pathogen for humans and animals, particularly cattle. It ha s been isolated increasingly from humans and animals it the United Kin gdom and several other European countries and, more recently, in the U nited States and Canada; Humans may acquire the infection from foods o f animal origin contaminated with the infective organism, Farm familie s are particularly at risk of acquiring the infection by contact with infected animals or by drinking unpasteurized milk. The symptoms in ca ttle are watery to bloody diarrhea, a drop in milk production, pyrexia , anorexia, dehydration and depression. Infection may result in septic emic salmonellosis and, upon necropsy, a fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis may be observed. The infection occurs were commonly in the calving se ason than at other times. Feedlot cattle and pigs may also be affected . prolonged carriage and shedding of the pathogen may occur. Symptoms in humans consist of diarrhea, fever, headache, nausea, abdominal pain , vomiting, and, less frequently, blood in the stool. Salmonella typhi murium DT104 strains are commonly resistant to ampicillin, chloramphen icol, streptomycin, sulfonamides, and tetracycline.