IDEXX Provides Diagnostic Recommendations for Animals Impacted by Salmonella Pet Food Recalls
Proper identification can help avoid zoonotic transmission
Several unrelated recalls this year by pet food manufacturers because of possible Salmonella contamination have raised public concern. A recently published article linked a human outbreak of Salmonella infections in 2006–2008 to contaminated pet food.1 For information regarding Salmonella and dry pet foods, please visit avma.org for a list of recalled foods and frequently asked questions. In this update IDEXX Reference Laboratories presents an approach to the diagnosis of Salmonella infection.
What are the presenting signs in dogs and cats infected with Salmonella?
Dogs and cats infected with Salmonella can fit into one of three broad categories:
- Clinically healthy: asymptomatic with no outward clinical signs of infection.
- Uncomplicated Salmonella-induced gastroenteritis: diarrhea with or without vomiting but animal is otherwise healthy with normal or near-normal energy levels and appetite.
- Severe Salmonella-induced gastroenteritis with evidence of systemic illness/septicemia: severe gastroenteritis with vomiting, hemorrhagic diarrhea, fever, anorexia, abdominal pain and severe malaise. Pale mucous membranes, weakness, marked dehydration, cardiovascular collapse, shock and even death can occur in septic animals.
What are the diagnostic recommendations for pets having consumed recalled food?
- For clinically healthy animals:
- Screening for Salmonella is not recommended.
- For animals with uncomplicated gastroenteritis:
- Routine fecal diagnostics such as fecal floatation by centrifugation and Giardia ELISA should be performed initially to identify more common causes of diarrhea.
- An IDEXX Canine or Feline Diarrhea RealPCR™ Panel should be performed if further diagnostic workup is clinically warranted or owner expresses concern over Salmonella-contaminated food.
- For animals with severe gastroenteritis with evidence of systemic illness/septicemia:
- CBC and biochemical profile should be performed. Neutrophilia or neutropenia with a left shift and toxic leukocytes, anemia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, electrolyte abnormalities, panhypoproteinemia, hypoglycemia and prerenal azotemia can occur.
- An IDEXX Canine or Feline Diarrhea RealPCR™ Panel should be performed.
Why are the IDEXX Canine and Feline Diarrhea RealPCR™ Panels recommended for the detection of Salmonella spp. infection?
The IDEXX Canine and Feline Diarrhea RealPCR Panels quickly and affordably screen for multiple pathogens including Salmonella spp. and now include a follow-up Salmonella culture and susceptibility (at no additional cost) if the Salmonella spp. RealPCR™ Test is positive, to help guide therapy.
The IDEXX diarrhea RealPCR panels identify other infectious causes of diarrhea and coinfections that may be missed if only a Salmonella spp. RealPCR Test or fecal culture is performed.
Ordering information
| Test Code/Name | Contents |
|---|---|
2625 | Canine distemper virus, canine enteric coronavirus (CECoV), canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2), Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin A gene, Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp. and Salmonella spp. RealPCR™ tests. If the RealPCR test is positive for Salmonella spp., a culture and MIC will be automatically performed at no additional charge. |
2627 | Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin A gene, Cryptosporidium spp., feline coronavirus (FCoV), feline panleukopenia virus, Giardia spp., Salmonella spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Tritrichomonas foetus RealPCR™ tests. If the RealPCR test is positive for Salmonella spp., a culture and MIC will be automatically performed at no additional charge. |
What samples are required for the IDEXX diarrhea RealPCR panels?
- For the RealPCR panel: 3–5 g (1 g minimum) fresh feces in a sterile container; keep refrigerated; collect sample prior to antibiotic administration.
and - For the Salmonella culture: Fresh feces should be submitted in fecal culture transport media; collect sample prior to antibiotic administration. Sufficient sample should be added to bring level of liquid to the fill line. Note: Salmonella culture will only be performed if sample in fecal culture transport media (which helps to preserve Salmonella viability) is received.
Turnaround time: 1–3 working days for an IDEXX diarrhea RealPCR panel; if performed, a Salmonella culture may take up to 3 additional days.
How do the results of the IDEXX Diarrhea RealPCR Panels impact treatment of dogs and cats with salmonellosis?
Identification of Salmonella infection will allow you to educate the pet owner of the proper precautions to avoid zoonotic transmission of Salmonella to a family member. Precautions include avoiding contact with feces and good hand hygiene. Routine use of antibiotics for asymptomatic dogs and cats or those with uncomplicated Salmonella gastroenteritis is not recommended as this may promote the development of drug-resistant strains and actually prolong the convalescent excretion period. For animals with severe Salmonella-induced gastroenteritis with evidence of systemic illness, the susceptibility profile provided with the Salmonella culture should be used for selection of optimal antimicrobials. A fluoroquinolone is typically recommended while waiting for results of the susceptibility profile.
If you have questions regarding the diagnostic recommendations for animals impacted by Salmonella pet food recalls or you would like to discuss IDEXX diarrhea RealPCR panel results or treatment of your patients, please call our team of internal medicine specialists at 1-888-433-9987, option 4, option 2.