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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Egg and Poultry Production Safety Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #280250
Title: Serotypes of Salmonella enterica Present in the Internal Organs of Mice Caught On-farm From 1995 – 1998.

Author
item Guard, Jean
item Stewart, Tod
item Sanchez-Ingunza, Roxana

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/8/2012
Publication Date: 7/9/2012
Citation: Guard, J.Y., Stewart, T.E., Sanchez-Ingunza, R. 2012. Serotypes of Salmonella enterica Present in the Internal Organs of Mice Caught On-farm From 1995 – 1998. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. p 291.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: : Salmonella enterica is a persistent and pervasive pathogen that impacts the safety of the food supply, especially in regards to poultry and poultry products. The house mouse Mus musculus is a recognized risk factor for introduction on-farm. More information is needed about Salmonella serotypes that are circulating in mouse populations caught on-farm to more accurately assess the risk that rodents present to maintaining a safe food supply. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Mice were caught on-farm from 38 different poultry farms located in the Northeast United States between March of 1995 and May of 1998. Spleens and intestines were cultured and broth cultures from positive samples were frozen pending further processing. Intergenic Sequence Ribotyping (ISR) linked to the dkgB gene (Morales et al, FEMS Microbiol Lett 264 (2006) 48-58) was used to establish serotype. The ISR method was developed and evaluated against accepted methods such as the Kauffman-White scheme and AOAC approved DNA microarray. RESULTS: During a sampling time spanning 3 years and 2 months, 822 mice were caught. Of these mice, 192 were culture positive for Salmonella enterica. ISR genotyping of 88 positive cultures indicated that 9 serotypes could be identified from mice caught in the on-farm environment of poultry. These serotypes were, from greatest to least percentage, respectively: S. Pullorum (22.1%), S. Enteritidis (19.8%), S. Schwarzengrund (19.8%), S. Heidelberg (17.4%), S. Typhimurium (8.1%), S. Typhimurium 1,4,[5],12:i- (4.7%), and S. Agona (2.3%). Two unique serotypes were 3.4% and 2.3% of totals. CONCLUSION: The house mouse Mus musculus appears to be an important reservoir for pathogenic serotypes of Salmonella enterica in the poultry environment. In addition, the mouse appears to be a reservoir for S. Pullorum on-farm, which is a risk to the health of poultry although it does not cause human disease. Rodent control should be emphasized in biosecurity programs. Key index words: Poultry, mouse, Salmonella, serotype, environment