Isolation of Salmonella organisms from the mesenteric lymph nodes of horses at necropsy
House, J.K.; Smith, B.P.; Wildman, T.R.; Carrigan, M.J.; Kamiya, D.Y.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 215(4): 507-510
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 10461635 Document Number: 509801
Mesenteric lymph nodes collected from 102 horses submitted for necropsy at the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between April and December, 1994, were submitted for Salmonella culture. Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of 2 foals (1.96%). Salmonella organisms were not isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of adult horses. The low prevalence of Salmonella infections found in horses in this study contrasted with high prevalences found in other studies. It is suggested that the results of cross-sectional surveys, using bacteriological culture to determine prevalence of Salmonella infection, should be interpreted with caution. Prevalence of Salmonella infections determined in a single facility may not reflect the prevalence of Salmonella-infected horses in the general population; furthermore, obtaining a Salmonella isolate from a horse does not establish that the horse is a chronic Salmonella carrier.