Occurrence and characterisation of Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae serovar 61: k: 1, 5, (7) in sheep in the federal state of Thuringia, Germany

Abstract

BackgroundThe occurrence of Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae serovar 61: k: 1, 5, (7) (SASd) and other Salmonella organisms in sheep in the German federal state of Thuringia was examined for the first time. Pooled faecal samples from 90 flocks located in this state were monitored.ResultsOnly SASd was detected in 74 (82.2%) out of the 90 sheep herds, other Salmonella serovars were not identified. A positive correlation was found between the flock size and the detection probability of SASd. Despite the agent’s high prevalence, clinical symptoms of a disease exclusively due to SASd have not been observed. The SASd strains were characterised by macrorestriction analysis, antimicrobial testing and the biochemical profile. All strains were sensitive to 13 out of 14 antimicrobial substances and resistant to only sulfamethoxazole. The high number of macrorestriction groups of SASd strains indicated a low clonality of the serovar.ConclusionsData from sheep derived foods and public health data in Germany strongly suggest that the significance of SASd for public health is considerably lower than that of serovars belonging to Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica. For this reason and because of the low disease-causing potential of SASd in sheep, it is worthwile to consider a reduction in ongoing activities from combating to monitoring serovar 61: k: 1, 5, (7) in the sheep population.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae Serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) Strain 1569 (14PM0011), Isolated from German Sheep

“…Although this serovar is considered host adapted, it displays a very different epidemiological pattern than does the sheep-restricted Salmonella enterica serovar Abortusovis. Salmonella serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) is able to produce both intestinal and extraintestinal infections with fecal, vaginal, and nasal colonization but mostly without clinical disease (2). These properties deviate from the classical characteristics of host-restricted, host-adapted, or ubiquitous serovars.…”

“…These properties deviate from the classical characteristics of host-restricted, host-adapted, or ubiquitous serovars. Therefore, the term “sheep-associated serovar” (2) appears to be appropriate for characterizing Salmonella serovar 61:k:1,5,(7).…”

“…diarizonae serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) strain 1569, isolated from a fecal sample from sheep in Thuringia, Germany, in 2014. Bacterial procedures and serotyping were performed as described before (2, 3). Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strain was assessed by determining the MIC by using the broth microdilution method with Sensititre EUVSEC plates (Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., East Grinstead, United Kingdom).…”

Complete Genome Sequence of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae Serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) Strain 14-SA00836-0, Isolated from Human Urine

“… Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) primarily infects sheep, with a high prevalence in sheep herds worldwide ( 1 – 3 ). Although most sheep appear to be asymptomatic carriers, infection with Salmonella serovar 61:k:1,5,(7) can cause chronic proliferative rhinitis ( 4 , 5 ) and abortions ( 6 , 7 ).…”

Experimental Study of the Potential Role of Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae in the Diarrhoeic Syndrome of Lambs

“…The organism was isolated from samples from sheep in the United Kingdom [ 10 ], Norway [ 11 , 12 ] and Germany [ 13 ], with isolation rates varying from 1% to 76% of samples. Further, during abattoir studies in the United Kingdom [ 14 ], Switzerland [ 15 ] and Sweden [ 16 ], isolation rates were always less than 1% of sheep carcasses.…”